The MLB season is getting ready to start and there have been an unusual amount of trade rumors in spring training and leading into 2014 and names like David Price, Max Scherzer, Jeff Samardzija, Doug Fister and Justin Masterson are some of the top players that could get moved this season and teams like the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers could be interested.
Price and Scherzer were two names that came up a great deal during the offseason and a number of trades were considered by both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Detroit Tigers, but there was nothing to either of their liking before spring training. The heat will be on Price all season when it comes to trade rumors, as he expected to get dealt during the offseason and after last season he remarked that it was unlikely he would be with the Rays this season.
The Rays don't usually break the bank for anyone, even someone as good as Price and that means he will be a top trade target, especially since he is a former Cy Young winner. Scherzer is another name that could get dealt, although that is far less likely now than it was early in the offseason. Reports from ESPN.com and SI.com said that the Tigers and Scherzer were far apart on a contract extension and many thought the only options for the team were to somehow get a deal done or trade him. Scherzer's value is high after wining the Cy Young last year and as a Scott Boras client you know he is looking for a ton of money.
The Tigers flirted with the idea of trading him, but instead the team opted to sign him to a one year deal worth $15,525,000 and until they lock him up with an extension, he will be mentioned in trade rumors. The Tigers moved Prince Fielder in a deal with the Texas Rangers to get that money off the books and they also traded away Doug Fister in what many thought was a confounding move, but when put in the context of the extension, it makes more sense.
Price still remains the most likely to get traded, while Jeff Samardzija could move as well and that comes after plenty of speculation about him this offseason in possible deals. Samardzija is entering the age where he is in his prime, but the Cubs are years away and he may be a veteran by the time they contend, putting Theo Epstein in a position to trade him for building for the future. The Cubs now could look to trade him this season, or try and sign him to an extension that doesn't break the bank for the team.
The Rays have been talking with the Mariners about a trade with Nick Franklin and that came after Seattle's interest earlier in the offseason, but Price said he would not sign an extension there. The injury to Jeremy Hellickson likely keeps him in a Rays uniform for a while, but as the trading deadline comes closer they may get a deal too good to pass up.