Tuesday, July 15, 2014

A Quick Price Check in Tampa

From ESPN.com:

[David] Price, making his fourth All-Star appearance in six big-league seasons, told reporters during Monday's media availability that he has a comfort level in Tampa Bay and would prefer to remain with the Rays' organization.

But he said he has come to grips with the team's financial limitations since negotiations toward a long-term contract stalled during the 2012-13 offseason and he knows a trade is more a question of when than if.

Price will be eligible for free agency in November 2015, and the Rays can't afford another nine-figure contract with third baseman Evan Longoria in the early stages of a deal that could be worth $144.6 million through 2023. As a 28-year-old power lefty with an 80-46 career record and a Cy Young Award on his resume, Price has abundant appeal to contending teams looking for a difference-maker down the stretch this season and for 2015.

The Dodgers are one potential suitor for Price because of their financial resources and deep supply of minor-league prospects. But the Angels, Giants, Cardinals, Mariners, Braves, Yankees and Blue Jays are other clubs that have been mentioned in speculation.

The Rays, who bottomed out at 24-42 on June 10, have won 20 of their last 31 to pull within eight games of a wild card berth. But ESPN.com's playoff tracker still gives them only a 3.9 percent chance of making the postseason this year.

Billingsley for Price. Do it, Ned!

1 comments:

Fred's Brim said...

I'd even throw in that super-prospect lefty we are hiding down in the minors, I think his name is Albert or Elbert, something like that