David Price is not a free agent until after the 2015 season, and that is a major factor in what is becoming an increasing likelihood he is not traded before Thursday’s non-waiver deadline.
Essentially, Tampa Bay budgeted and planned to have Price (making $14 million in 2014) this year and go for a championship with what it believed was its best team ever. An atrocious start to the season (24-42), however, forced the Rays to reroute and make Price available.
But en route to the sell-off, the Rays have become the hottest team in the majors (27-12 since June 11). Suddenly, the AL East (7 1/2 games back) and the wild card (4 1/2) have come back into view and so have those preseason aspirations to go for it with Price.
The Rays are a realistic group. They have to consider that even with their strong run they were still three games under .500 and had a lot of heavy lifting to do to be a playoff team. However, their rotation (with Alex Cobb and now Jeremy Hellickson back) is fully healthy and – when fronted by Price – is no question the best group in the AL East and in the argument for the best in the whole league. That is why there is a growing sense Tampa Bay will hold Price at the deadline.
As one executive said, “I don’t think he is going anywhere. They are close enough to make a run at it with him and [because he is a free agent after next season] pick up trade talks again with a lot more knowledge after the season. They are a smart organization. They know they have to always be thinking about the future and keeping the talent coming and their payroll [low]. So if they get overwhelmed [by an offer] between now and Thursday, I think they would consider it. But because they got back in this, I think they have to be overwhelmed into a no-brainer now to consider it.”