The Tampa Bay Rays might not drag out the David Price trade discussions for too much longer. According to a report by ESPN’s Buster Olney, sources indicate that the Rays are prepared to trade Price right now.
…Rival officials are monitoring the market in the way that meteorologists follow weather patterns, and they believe that the Rays are prepared to move the former Cy Young Award winner. As in, right now.
This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The trade market is usually more attractive for sellers the further we are from the July 31st deadline. In addition to that, Price’s value decreases with every start he makes for Tampa Bay.
The idea would be to part ways with him immediately in order to give a contending team the most potential bang for its buck. The more Price starts for a new team in 2014, the higher his value is going to be.
Olney continues…
The Rays aren’t actually close to trading Price, according to sources. But the climate is right, given Price’s impending free agency after 2015 and Tampa Bay’s shockingly poor play this season.
“Close” is a relative term. Multiple teams have scouted Price over the course of the last month or so. And it’s safe to say that Tampa Bay has had specific discussions with teams regarding its ace. Unlike any other sport, MLB trades can come together in the blink of an eye. Contending teams could very well up the ante in order to stave off their counterparts in a potential deal.
At this point, it’s safe to say Price will be dealt sooner rather than later.
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