The Seattle Mariners are ready to be major players during the offseason. The team's name has been thrown around in discussion for several of the top free agents as well as marquee trade deals. After exploring several options, they now are actively in talks to get starting pitcher David Price.
The trade market is hot for Price. The current Tampa Bay Rays starter has a large contract that the team appears unwilling to pay considering what they could get in return for him. Several team have been looking into package deals, but Yahoo! Sports is reporting the Mariners are offering a strong deal and are the best team equipped to land the star.
The Dodgers, Angels, Pirates and Rangers have all been in play for the Cy Young winner, but the Mariners have the best deal to give in return. The Mariners have plenty of strong prospects that are of interest to Tampa Bay. The team would likely include 21-year-old right-hander Taijuan Walker along with infielders Nick Franklin and Brad Miller. Walker ranks at No. 4 on the Minor League's Top Prospects list after an impressive year last season. That would give the Rays depth in place of their main pitcher in the trade.
At first a Price trade seemed unlikely. He is owed $30 million over the next two seasons before he hits free agency. That is a lot of money for a team to take on for just two years, but Price is a special case. The 28-year-old put up a 3.33 ERA last season while walking a career-low 1.3 batters per nine innings. With numbers like that, any team would be interested no matter what the contract situation is. Acquiring Price would give the Mariners a fierce rotation with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma. It could be the best 1-2-3 in all of sports.
The Price rumors come in the midst of Robinson Cano rumors. The Mariners have now been seen as the likely landing spot for the second baseman after the Yankees handed out large contracts to both Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury, leaving them little money to give to Cano. The New York Post is reporting Seattle is going after the top free agent with "guns-a-blazing."
Sources say they believe an offer is already on the table from Seattle, but it is unknown what the amount is. The Yankees have offered a seven-year, $165 million deal. Cano is requesting eight to nine years, worth upwards of $260 million. The Yankees have no plans of extending past $200 million.
The Mariners have the resume to land top players despite coming off another losing season, as they have a deep budget. Things could certainly start to take shape during the MLB winter meetings.