The Los Angeles Dodgers are surely focused on their upcoming National League Championship Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, but the eliminated Tampa Bay Rays may be floating their ace, David Price, out as trade bait. ESPN analyst Peter Gammons said on MLB Network the Dodgers might bite.
"It wouldn't shock me at all if David Price is with the Dodgers next year," Gammons said. Los Angeles has become the league's flashiest team in terms of large acquisitions, surpassing the suddenly cash-conscious Yankees. Adding Price to the rotation would mean their top four starters read-Clayton Kershaw, Price, Zack Greinke, Hyun-jin Ryu.
That would be added to a lineup that features Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, and a full season of outfielder Yasiel Puig.
It's unknown whether Los Angeles is interested, and Magic Johnson recently shot down reports of the team going after free agent second baseman Robinson Cano. "You already know that guy in New York (Cano) is going to be paid. Not by us. But he's going to get paid," Johnson said.
Whether or not it's to the Dodgers, Price told Tampa Bay reporters he believes he will be traded. "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," Price said.
"It's not disappointing or anything like that," Price said. "This is a place I love to be. My teammates and everyone in the organization knows 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."
In the past Tampa Bay has dealt promising starters like Matt Garza and James Shields for prospects, although never a player of Price's caliber. Manager Joe Maddon seems somewhat resigned to the inevitability of a Price trade.
"It's never an inviting thought to think David is not going to be with you. But we're faced with a lot of this stuff on an annual basis," Maddon said. "It's part of who we are here. We understand that. We're hoping that it will turn out that he'll be able to be here, but I don't know how that is all going to play out. Players like David Price, you always want to have on your side."
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