There have been many rumors about the Tampa Bay Rays moving ace pitcher David Price this offseason, but reports indicate that the team may actually decide to just keep the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner as opposed to dealing him, despite the fact that there has been speculation of a Price trade all winter.
ESPN reports that even though Price is due to become a free agent in 2015 and command more than what the Rays can afford to pay him, the team still may not move him this offseason even though it would give the potential trade partner two years of control over the left-handed pitcher. The report indicates that the team may find Price to be too valuable to their 2014 aspirations to move him.
The Rays went 92-71 last season and defeated the Cleveland Indians in the Wild-Card game to get into the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons before losing to the eventual World Series champion and division rival Boston Red Sox in four games in the AL Division Series.
The Rays would like to enjoy the same regular season success next year and try to go even further with it in the postseason, but without Price it would almost certainly prove to be a more daunting task.
The report indicates that even though a trade return for Price would probably be more valuable this offseason compared to next offseason when he'd only have one year until he is a free agent, the club is putting their playoff aspirations and goals ahead of the value they might get in return for a trade.
Rays owner Stewart Sternberg said that the team and Price weren't looking ahead to his free agency period and would just like to focus on the upcoming 2014 season.
"[Executive vice president of baseball Andrew Friedman] said and correctly that there is no question that we can handle a contract like David's, but what are you able to put around him?" Sternberg said via SB Nation. "But right now, and correctly, David is focused on this season and we're focused on this season and speculatively it's way too early for people to be focused on what's three years from now, four years from now. David is an enormous part of this organization and has been so through all the success from 2008 to 2013."
He insisted that Price would not be dealt before this season.
"We haven't had those thoughts. Others have speculated. There's been speculation but we haven't had those thoughts at all," he told the media per SB Nation.
When asked about keeping Price past this season, Sternberg said, "Oh yeah, sure. Absolutely."
Price went 10-8 last season with a 3.33 ERA and 151 strikeouts while throwing an MLB-high four complete games a season after he won the Cy Young Award after going a career-best 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 2012.
Price has spent his entire six-year career with the Rays and is 71-39 with a 3.19 ERA and 876 career strikeouts.
It seems like Price will be with the Rays going forward and that a trade is not imminent.
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