Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
One of the hot names on the trade market heading into the 2013-14 offseason is obviously going to be David Price. Almost immediately after the Tampa Bay Rays were eliminated from the postseason, his name popped up as a trade candidate for several teams, one of the more prominent ones being the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs are in the phase of their rebuild where bigger names might be more of a possibility for them, if the price is right (no pun intended). Getting Joe Girardi as manager would have indicated that they would pursue at least one major name on the trade market, such as Price or Carlos Gonzalez. While that didn’t happen, the chances of them pursuing such a name still exist.
In the case of Price, he’s a name that has been connected to them in the past. Last winter, multiple writers cited the Cubs as the team that could acquire him if he were to become available. With two years left under team control, virtually every team in baseball will be in on him. That’s not the only reason he’s a long shot for the Cubs, though.
In order to acquire Price, you’re talking about surrendering one top prospect, another notable one, and probably more. Potentially a roster player as well. The Cubs aren’t interested in selling any of their top prospects, as they possess four or five of baseball’s top offensive prospects. While there are young names in the system that they may be interested in dealing, the Rays may want more.
There’s also the matter of the contract situation. Yes, Price is under team control for two more years, but one of those will likely be thrown away, as the Cubs aren’t going to be contenders in 2014. Which means he’s going to require an extension. Which means the Cubs would be in the same situation with Price as they currently are with Jeff Samardzija, unless they were to include Shark in a potential deal, something that isn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility.
In the end, it’s very unlikely that we’re going to see David Price don the royal blue pinstripes any time in the near future. While a trade would make sense on multiple levels, there are too many factors working against a deal. He may very well be dealt, but don’t expect his home starts to come on the North Side of Chicago next season.
