The Rays are “talking and willing” to trade ace David Price in spite of the club’s recent success, a team source tells Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. It remains to be seen whether “any teams have the desire” to make a deal, the source adds.
His peers believe that GM Andrew Friedman would be willing to make the bold move with his team playing itself onto the fringe of contention. It is worth noting also that Friedman now possesses ample leverage to demand a deal that he finds sufficient before pulling the trigger. Of course, the apparent availability of Jon Lester could have some impact on the possible return for Price, though some clubs may have a greater or lesser preference for a pure rental as opposed to a pitcher (such as Price) who comes with a year of control and window of opportunity for an extension.
As we recently covered, Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggests that Tampa would be in position to receive a package from the Cardinals including top prospect Oscar Taveras, struggling young starter Shelby Miller, and the team’s compensation choice at the end of the first round next year. While it remains unclear whether that offer is actually on the table, rival executives tell Heyman that the possibility “had some merit” and that it could well tempt Friedman.
Cdiaz
I don’t think taveras is as good as joc pederson.
john sands
not a scout in the country will agree with you …. but time will tell.
Tom 22
If the prospect doesn’t hit the ground running at the major league level they’re a bust to most people. It’s kind of funny.
Dodgerz88
Trout and Puig got people thinking that way.
WisBrave
Even Trout didn’t hit the ground running.
DieHardMsFan
Check again. Even Trout struggled. MLB is about making the adjustments.
JimEdmondsMVP
I think Taveras issue is he’s still learning. In my opinion the Cards promoted the wrong corner OF. I think Piscotty is ready but Taveras has a ceiling that is far & away better than Piscotty.
Peterson’s only advantages over Taveras, in my opinion only are his ability to play CF long term & more plate discipline. Though in all fairness to Taveras, anytime your comp is Vlad Guerrero you know plate discipline isn’t exactly top notch.
d-blaqueqq
Ha! Vlad used to get hits on balls near his feet, so it doesn’t matter.
JimEdmondsMVP
That was my point but I guess it wasn’t fully articulated. Plate discipline ie walks, taking bad pitches aren’t Vlad’s or Taveras’ thing. Contact on the other hand is where they excel, which is why Vlad is considered one of if not the best bad ball hitters of all time.( At least before Trout).
d-blaqueqq
Yup, I got it.
108 stitches 2
Really……….Tavares, that swing and that arm.
Travis2014
Good idea in my opinion…though I guess I don’t get the need to rush. They could just trade him the off-season and still get a really nice package.
Guest 3672
Hopefully its the Rangers with time to negotiate an extension.
agureghian
Cardinals or Dodgers.
Connor 3
I’ve never been a fan of the rays trading price, but this deal is hard to pass up.
Mark Kelevara
If Price joins the Cardinals, I’d be sweating it for sure. Last thing I would want would be for the Dodgers to face the Cards again in the NLCS only to have to face Waino, Wacha & Price. Would be a fun series though! (Assuming both teams even make it that far, of course lol)
d-blaqueqq
Lester is available, haha.
Mark Kelevara
Care to elaborate a bit more on your comment? Was your comment in reference to the Cards or the Dodgers picking him up? or are we just playing a game where we name available pitchers and laugh? Let me give it a shot…
Hamels is available, haha.
Hmmm, it is fun. Thanks.
d-blaqueqq
Chill. I’m saying the Dodgers can grab Lester as a response.
You’re welcome.
Mark Kelevara
Hmm, I assumed that was the case but you know how the old saying goes! At least I’m assuming you do… No pun intended haha
d-blaqueqq
Definitely. I expect something completely anticlimatic like Lester signing an extension. I’m more interested in players moving!
Mark Kelevara
Well, it looks almost official now! Lester is scratched from his start tomorrow… Which team made the move, only time will tell!
d-blaqueqq
Chill. I’m saying the Dodgers can grab Lester as a response.
You’re welcome.
Mikenmn
Price has to be worth more than Lester. He’s better, has an extra year, and you can get back the compensation pick. But it’s a very strange market right now. Maybe none of them will end up being moved
karkat
I’d love for the Cards to make this deal if it would spur the Pirates and the Brewers into a bit of a frenzy for Lester…. :Dc
DempseyK
Do you have any idea how long Pirates fans have been waiting for Cardinal fans to actually be concerned about the success or failure of our deadline deals? LOL But tbh, I feel the same way about us getting Price, because then you guys and the crew will be forced to overpay on Lester LOL!!! Good luck and much respect!
karkat
“You guys?” Excuse me, but my interest is in getting your team to give us your prospects for our lefty 😛
Nathan Boley
I don’t think the Pirates will go too far for Lester. They have a significantly better farm than Milwaukee and probably view him as more of a luxury rather than a necessity. Unless the Brewers throw in Nelson, I’m not sure it gets done by anyone to be honest.
yewed
Totally agree. If the Cards make this deal, It would put a lot of pressure on
the other teams to possibly overpay for Lester. I’m not used to being sellers
almost has much fun as being buyers.
Bob Bunker
A josh Bell or Austin Meadows package sounds really good for Lester
karkat
Agreed. I really liked Meadows going into the 2013 draft
Bob Bunker
Same and we could of taken him but instead we got Trey Ball another SP with high upside but a lot of years of development ahead of him…
karkat
My disdain for the Ball pick was and still is intense
cyberboo
If the Rays would be open to in-division trades, the Jays would grab Price for Norris, Pompey, plus filler, which is their 1 and 4 ranked prospects.
Jacob Teague
That would absolutely not be enough, Norris is #29 and Pompey is #95 in MLB top 100 prospects.
bobbleheadguru
Red Sox should give up a top prospect and Lester to get Price (better pitcher, extra year).
Rays can get Red Sox prospect plus another from a third team.
That third team would get Lester.
Jacob Teague
Why would the Red Sox trade for price when the Red Sox are in sell mode?
Bradleyd222
As a Cards fan, they need to figure out anyway possible to not have to give up Taveras or CMart. Would the Rays really say no to a package of Piscotty, Craig(w/10M in future salary going to Rays), Miller and Marco Gonzales?
bighiggy
I think you have just sparked an excellent trade proposal. Whats that 2 top 20 prospects and a good first baseman and a yound major league arm. Sounds good. Then flip wong and taveras and cmart for tulo?
murph180
And do what with peralta?
Dave 32
The Rockies will need someone, might as well be him? I’d think a deal for Tulowitzki would involve sending them back a SS.
Dave 32
The Rockies will need someone, might as well be him? I’d think a deal for Tulowitzki would involve sending them back a SS.
bighiggy
Third base and carp to 2nd.
Bob Bunker
Craig will be 30 a year from now, has declined 4 straight years to a 79 OPS+ this year, and a lot of advanced stats like GB% and fly ball distance say its more then just a 1 year slump. He has 25 million left on his contract and is no where valuable enough to be the 2nd piece in a Price trade.
Shelby Miller has been getting luck with BABOP, LOB%, and HR/FB rates and still has a 4.2 ERA and got pushed to the pen and only has 1 year of min salary left. Maybe a a decent thrown in for Price if the Rays think he can turn it around but no where near valuable enough to be a number 2 or 3 piece.
I think a trade without Tavares and C-Mart would have to include Wong, Piscotty, Marco Gonzales, and Shelby Miller as the 4th piece and even that seems weak for Price IMO.
Hawkeye2020
How about Randal Grichuck, and Marco Gonzalez, and a draft Pick for Price?? Marco is considered the next Michael Wacha..
Jacob Teague
Not nearly enough, the deal has to have either OT or Carmart
Bradleyd222
No it doesn’t….
john sands
Cardinals will not end up with Price if 3 1st round picks are not nearly enough.
TheRealRyan 2
It’s irrelevant where the player was drafted, but I agree he will not be a Cardinal if that is the package they offer. Honestly, I couldn’t picture a scenario where Price would be moved if any of those guys were the second piece in a package.
Dynasty22
Who has ever compared Gonzalez to Wacha?
Jacob Teague
Cory Jones
Stlman
David Price & Ben Zobrist to the Cardinals for Piscotty, Craig, Marco Gonzales, and Carlos Martinez. Zobrist is the utility man the Cardinals are looking for, and can man Second or right field whenever Wong or Taveras needs a break. Also, adding Price to our rotation would look like this: Wainwright, Price, Lynn, Kelly, and Miller. Once Wacha comes back, he’ll replace Shelby in the rotation. We have enough pitching prospects to cover for trading C Mart.
ASchmidt
That’s terrible. And Zobrist would start at either RF or 2B if he somehow ended up on the Cards
Stlman
Explain to me how it’s terrible? Zobrist starting RF is fine and his contract ends at the end of the season. Taveras is not nearly ready to be our everyday RF this year.
DieHardMsFan
Zobrist has a team option for 2015. So he is essentially signed through next year.
ASchmidt
It’s terrible on the Rays side. Price is the best pitcher on the market and Zobrist is the best hitter, unless Tulo is being shopped. And both are under team control for next year. If a team wanted both, it would have to pay a heavy, heavy price.
Met Fan 4 Life
It’s only good if you are a Cardinal fan, which I would assume a STL Man would be. :p I can’t figure out how a team with all this money to be the the Yankees of the Midwest still qualifies for “competitive balance” picks.
ztoa
If Taveras and Miller on the table, RAJ better get in the running & ship Lee & cash or Hamels and a lil cash.
Ralph Esposito
Tampa Bay is in a tough spot. They will get alot in trades but if they stand pat, they should win that division. The trade proposals would have to knock me over.
Dave 32
I would trade Miller and Taveras in a heartbeat for Price. If that could happen just like that with the supplemental pick, do it. Do it now. I think after winning a World Series in St. Louis, Price would be inclined to sign a fair deal for the Cardinals and everyone would end up a winner.
However, I’d really, really, really love to see Tulowitzki (assuming he’s fully healthy) in exchange for those dudes (and obviously more) if there’s gonna be a deal. Too bad it won’t happen.
Paul Shailor
“After winning a World Series in St. Louis, superstar x will be inclined to sign a fair deal”
Like Pujols.
UpSide
To be honest i wouldnt call Pujols deal ‘fair’, i’d call it bloody insane for the Angels to be paying him that, but meh.
Paul Shailor
Right, but he said he would take a fair deal, and pujols did not.
108 stitches 2
Pay the price for Price or fester for Lester.
Anthony Guivas
If I were the Marlins I’s trade the farm for Price. I think trading Heaney and Jake Marisnick for Price would at the very least get the Rays attention.