The David Price rumor mill is starting to spin hard at the winter meetings and some of the teams that are getting mentioned as potential partners for trades include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners and the latest names involved are As Mike Zunino and Nick Franklin with the Rays.
The Mariners reportedly were interested in trading for Price, but when the Rays demanded Taijuan Walker in any deal, the M's bounced back and said he was untouchable, seemingly ending any chance for a deal. But according to SI.com, the Mariners are still interested, but this time around they are trying to shop catcher Mike Zunino and Nick Franklin, who can play both second base and shortstop. The Mariners feel comfortable trading Franklin after signing Robinson Cano and with Brad Miller at shortstop, the team is set up the middle. The team would like to add another bat and a top of the line starter and Price fits that bill as a former Cy Young winner and he also is attractive since he has two more years of team control.
The Mariners aren't worried about money right now based on the Robinson Cano contract, but they would like to hang onto some of their young talent and it is still a question about what the Rays will take for Price. The dodgers and Rangers have both been mentioned as potential suitors and each has the prospects to move for him as well. The M's have a staff with Felix Hernandez and Cy Young finalist Hisashi Iwakuma and adding Price to that mix would give the team a formidable pitching rotation heading into the season.
The Mariners have the money to afford a raise for Price, as he will get more than his 2013 salary of $10.1 million in arbitration and with Cano joining the team, adding Price would be huge. The Dodgers would be adding another superstar to their rotation with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke and SI.com writes that the team has minor league players to deal in Corey Seager and pitcher Julio Urias, while the Rangers also could put together a nice package for him.
Price was excellent down the stretch and the Rays have made no secret about trading him and it is likely he will get moved at some point this offseason, if not this week. He had a 3.33 ERA last season and down the stretch he had a sub 3.00 ERA and as the Rays head into the winter, they are looking to add some pop and young players in any deal for Price. Right now these three teams look like the best bets.