In a conference call early this week Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price told reporters that he was mentally preparing himself for a trade this off-season.
"If you go with what's been done in the past, I guess you're going to have to think you're going to get traded" said Price. "This is a place I love to be. My teammates and everyone in the organization know's that. It's part of baseball and it's something I've seen go on, it's kind of something I somewhat prepared myself for."
What Price is alluding to is the fact that the Ray's organization have had a recent history of selling high on their young arms the moment their price tag's incline.
We saw this with Matt Garza, when he was dealt to the Cubs with three years left on his contract and again with James Shields, when he was dealt to the Kansas City Royals with two years left on his contract.
Price, a 28 year old former first round draft pick in 2007, is projected to earn a 3 million dollar raise this off-season, spiking his annual salary from $10.1MM to $13.1MM. He is one of the best young pitchers in all of baseball and even took home the American League Cy Young Award in 2012.
If and when David Price hit's the trade market, there's no question he will be the most sought after asset for any ball club throughout the MLB.
Last winter the Royals surrendered baseball's No. 4 overall prospect Will Myers as well as three other prestigious prospects in a package for Wade Davis and James Shields.
Imagine who the Rays will get for Price?
Here is a list of three possible destinations for David Price this winter;
1. Chicago Cubs
Why?
Let's be honest... The last place the Rays want to send Price is the American League East, heck maybe even the American League in general.
Aside from that, David Price has the potential to give the Cubs their biggest franchise need, a true No. 1 pitcher, something that Matt Garza, Carlos Zambrano, and Jeff Samardzjia never amounted to. With Theo Epstein in town loading up on prospects, Price can undoubtedly be the one guy the Cubs can finally build their team around.
He's a work horse.
Another reason why the Cubs may pull the trigger on Price is the fact that his pitching coach at Vanderbilt, Derek Johnson, is now the minor league affiliate pitching coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. Though this means him and Price would only link up pending a promotion to Wrigley Field for Johnson, it's not out of reach.
The Cubs also have the most amount of potential prospects that the Rays may covet, including Mike Olt, Javier Baez, C.J. Edwards, Jorge Soler, and co.
2. Texas Rangers
If he's traded within the American League, the chances are the Rays will send him all the way West.
Though Texas already has Yu Darvish and Matt Garza, you can never count Nolan Ryan out when it comes to pitching. Should they strike a deal for Price, the Texas Rangers can move themselves from a contender to the AL West Favorites. After all, Price is the man who beat the Texas Rangers in the A.L. Wild Card game that concluded the Rangers season.
Texas find themselves in a situation where they have no room for second base/ short stop prospect Juriskson Profar because of the teams commitment to Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus. Should they center a prospect package around Profar and someone like Martin Perez, it may be enough to lure Price away from the Rays.
3. Seattle Mariners
Can you imagine David Price in the no. 2 hole following Felix Hernandez?
It's something that only fantasy baseball team owners can entertain, but the truth is it's not out of the question.... at all.
The Mariners already have numerous outstanding prospects that are already on their active 25 man roster. Though the cost may be high, it's hard to see GM Jack Zduriencik not entertaining the possibility of a bringing in David Price as an heir to King Felix's court.
If the Mariners are tempted enough to center a trade package around first baseman Justin Smoak, David Price can very well be the next Seattle Mariner.
What do you think?
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