David Price was mentioned in several trade rumors during the offseason, and the veteran pitcher's name is expected to come up in talks again this early in the 2014 MLB Season.
The Tampa Bay Rays signed promising pitcher Chris Archer to a six-year deal worth up to $43.75 million with $25 million guaranteed on Wednesday, securing the 25-year-old pitcher's future with the Rays.
But while Archer is bound to stay with the Rays, Price, who went 10-8 last season with 3.33 ERA, is now reportedly on his way out with sources indicating that Archer's contract extension is a precursor to a trade involving Price.
"The move has had many speculating that it is a precursor to the Rays trading David Price, which is something that has been speculated about all offseason and seems to be a near guarantee," Sports World Report noted.
Sources also added that several teams are expected to express interest in acquiring the 28-year-old pitcher, including the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Seattle Mariners.
"Price is one player that has come up in trade rumors heading into the 2014 season and now teams like the NY Yankees, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Dodgers and Seattle Mariners could be interested in making a move for the former Cy Young winner," SWR noted.
Among the interested teams, the Mariners are tipped as the most ideal landing spot for the left hander. Tampa Bay and Seattle reportedly engaged in talks about a potential David Price trade in the offseason, but the two teams failed to find a common ground.
According to reports, the Mariners were very interested in trading for Price, but talks went down after the Rays asked for Taijuan Walker's inclusion in the deal.
Seattle wanted a long-term commitment from Price before striking a deal involving Walker, but the seven-year veteran pitcher expressed no interest in playing for the Mariners.
Sources indicated, though, that Price could have a change of heart after the Mariners, bannered by offseason recruit Robinson Cano, started the season with a 3-0 record.
"Price stated he wouldn't sign an extension with the team basically killed any chance of him going to the Mariners. But that was the offseason and now that the team is 3-0, if they end up having a good year with Robinson Cano and King Felix, maybe Price has a change of heart and okays a deal to the Pacific Northwest," SWR added.
