The MLB trade deadline is in a week and David Price is the top pitcher on the market and teams like the Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, NY Yankees, Indians and LA Dodgers all could be interested in trading with the Tampa Bay Rays at the trading deadline.
Price has been under the trade rumor gun all season and that continued from the winter when everyone though he would be traded and now it could go down. According to Jon Heyman at CBS, Price is the main target for a number of teams and the Mariners could be in line to make the deal, along with the Cardinals and Dodgers. The Mariners and Rays have been talking about Ben Zobrist and Price, but that deal would likely mean prospects like Taijuan Walker and Nick Franklin moving.
The Mariners have Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma, but the rest of the rotation has question marks in Chris Young and Roenis Elias and adding Price would be massive. Having Price means that it's possible for the team to have Price, Felix or Kuma, as the pitcher in the one game playoff if they can make it there and that would be a big boost to the Seattle side as they push to stay atop the wild card standings.
According to Hardball Talk, the Cardinals are interested in making a deal for Price since the team is dealing with a number of injuries in the rotation, but they do not want to give up a top prospect just to see Price walk in two years. The Mariners are not as worried, as they see this two year window as a time for them to make the playoffs and they can deal with getting a draft pick if Price leaves as a free agent after next season. The Cardinals likely would have to part with Oscar Taveras or Carlos Martinez and to do that, which is why they are looking at him making a commitment to the team.
Price has been the main target of talks because he has not signed a long term deal with the Rays and is close to free agency. The Rays don't usually pay players what Price should get on the market and now teams are looking at deals for him, but some are weary of making a move without a commitment from Price. The Mariners are looking at a deal knowing that Price will likely not sign an extension, while the Cardinals are interested in Price, but only if he is going to sign a deal with the team.
Price is pitching very well this season and that has only made him more valuable and chances are the Rays will not give him up without a major package. The Mariners also have Chris Taylor and DJ Peterson, but they do not want to give up those names. The Mariners are not as worried as other teams about Price not signing, as they feel having him this year and next season would be good enough and then they could get a draft pick once he leaves. The team is in playoff position for the first time in a decade and they may want to strike while the iron is hot.
