The trade market for Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price is expected to pick up later this week, and the Seattle Mariners might be the team best-equipped to land him, according to Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan.
David Price trade: Mariners considering Taijuan Walker in potential deal with Rays, per report
It seems the Mariners mean business when it comes to competing in the AL West.
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The Mariners, who have already shown interest in signing star free-agent Robinson Cano, are toying around with the idea of including minor-league pitcher Taijuan Walker in a potential deal for Price, per Passan. Walker ranks No. 4 on Minor League Ball's Top 75 Prospects list. The 21-year-old right-hander posted a 3.60 ERA in three starts with the Mariners in 2013 after striking out 160 batters in 141⅓ innings and finishing with a 2.93 ERA in two minor-league stops.
The Rays have Price under team control for two more seasons but could receive a massive haul for the 28-year-old left-hander if they deal him this offseason. Price, who posted a 3.33 ERA while walking a career-low 1.3 batters per nine innings in 2013, is projected to make $13.1 million next season, according to MLB Trade Rumors’ estimated arbitration salaries for 2014.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels are also interested in Price, and each team thinks it has the assets that would be required to obtain him, according to Passan.
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