Price would form a three-headed monster atop their rotation alongside left-hander Jon Lester, their prized offseason acquisition, and right-hander Jake Arrieta, who has quietly outperformed Lester by a fairly wide margin. Los Angeles is unlikely to budge on Seager, who projects as a superstar at a position of need for years to come, but Urias might be attainable for the Tigers in a deal.
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Assuming the Cubs win a wild card berth, Price could become that #1 man who could win the do-or-die one-game playoff with the Pirates, Giants, or New York Mets – the most likely contenders.
It is worth noting, according to Bob Nightengale, the Cubs want to add pitching at the deadline but are a bit leery about adding an expiring contract. It’s been well over a century since the franchise has won it all but if it could land Price, the Cubs could have a chance to break the curse. He played under Joe Maddon for all of his time with the Tampa Bay Rays (2008-2014), is the type of arm the Cubs need, and the Cubs have the organizational depth to trade for Price, or the deep pockets to entice him via free agency.
SB Nation appears to be putting their money on the Cubs.
Price is going to be a free agent at the end of the year, and is sure to command upward of $200 million on the open market.
“Tigers left fielder Cespedes is telling friends that he wants to re-sign with the club – and that he would maintain that desire even if the Tigers traded him and he became a free agent”, Rosenthal wrote. The Cubs, if they are willing to, certainly have the young pieces to acquire him. Javier Baez? Kyle Schwarber? Edwards, Albert Almora and Billy McKinney, among others.
The major concern is that Price is a rental, while someone like Cole Hamels is not. Even not wanting to give up prospects, it’s probably selling the process short by saying “just go sign him in the offseason” -like it’s that easy.
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At least eight different teams – eight! – are expected to be interested in Price. If they insist, parting with prospects is alright to land someone like Price, but you’d hope there would be a long-term willingness from Price’s camp before actually pulling the trigger on a deal.
