Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price has been one of the bigger names involved in trade speculation this offseason, but reports indicate that the team is "in no hurry" to trade the left-handed pitcher while he is still technically on the market.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays are taking a patient approach to trading their ace this offseason and the team may not end up parting ways with him at all.
The Tampa Bay Times reported the following to dispute misguided perceptions about a Price deal, according to The Sporting News:
"There is no deadline, no drop-dead date by which the Rays have to make a deal or tell Price he isn't being traded," according to the newspaper. "Reports that they are motivated to do so by Dec. 31 to hand off payment of $4 million in deferred money are incorrect: The payment isn't due until Oct. 1, and it is the Rays' obligation, so really a nonfactor, as including it would be the same as asking for cash in a deal and subject to MLB approval."
Price, 28, won't be a free agent for another two seasons and the Rays are looking to move the 2012 American League Cy Young award winner in return for some young talent, which the team has a knack for developing into strong major league players. According to reports, the team hasn't received anything noteworthy that would sway them to deal Price so the team is taking a patient approach as far as moving him is concerned.
The paper reports that the Rays' take on the trade could change depending on how the market for starting pitching shakes out during the next couple of weeks. There were rumors of the Rays possibly sending him to the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Matt Kemp last week, but nothing of substance has risen from the rumors.
The Sporting News reports that the Seattle Mariners are the team that has shown the most interest in landing Price, and would look to pair him with current ace "King" Felix Hernandez as a potent 1-2 starting pitching punch.
Price won the AL Cy Young in 2012 with a 20-5 record and a 2.56 ERA, but didn't have as much success last season when he went 10-8 with a 3.33 ERA. Still, he remains one of the most revered pitchers in the game.
The Rays are taking a patient approach to dealing Price, and it remains to be seen if he'll have a new home for 2014.
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