The MLB trade rumors season is getting underway and the Rays look like a prime seller at the baseball trade deadline this year, as names like Ben Zobrist, David Price, Desmond Jennings and Yunel Escobar could be traded to teams like the Seattle Mariners, NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox or Los Angeles Dodgers, as the Rays are way out of the wild card chase and are the worst team in baseball record-wise in June.
The Rays came into the season expecting to contend for the division, but that has not happened and now it's very likely they will trade Price. The team also could look at moving Zobrist and other players, but the main piece is Price and the team came into the season knowing it might trade the pitcher anyway. According to ESPN.com, the Rays were close to trading Price in the offseason but couldn't find a deal they liked and one team that was interested was the Mariners and they also could be looking at Zobrist.
Price is a former Cy Young winner and he is on a short contract right now after not being able to come to an extension with the Rays and they don't pay big bucks anyway and that means he likely will be traded. The Yankees don't have the prospects to make a move like that, but they could be in the mix for other pitchers as well. At one point this season the Mariners were 7-13 and now they are over .500 and according to Lookout Landing, they may look at trying to trade for Zobrist at the deadline to get some depth and offensive help for Robinson Cano. Zobrist gives the team flexibility, as he can hit anywhere in the lineup and also can play shortstop, second base as well as the outfield.
The Yankees and Mariners are both hanging around in the playoff hunt and right now Seattle has a small lead over the Orioles and the Yanks heading into the middle of June. The Mariners came into the season feeling good about their team after signing Robinson Cano and while no one expects the team to win the division, it's not a major ask to see the team near .500 or in wild card contention. The Mariners have dealt with numerous injuries and have found a way to stay afloat and now they have to try and do it again with Justin Smoak and Michael Saunders out of the lineup for a bit.
The Yankees have dealt with numerous injuries on their pitching staff and that is one reason why they could be in the mix for Price or Cliff Lee along with Jeff Samardzija. The team is without ace CC Sabathia along with Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda and without Masahiro Tanaka the team could be in last place. The Yankees will have to make a move and it remains to be seen if it will be a big one. The Yankees and Mariners are both right there for the wild card and that could lead to trades at the deadline.
