ESPN on Rays' thoughts at the trade deadline

[G-Snarls]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/tradedeadline/factors-tampa-bay-rays-weigh-david-price-trade

 

MLBTR summary by Steve Adams [July 24, 2014 at 4:25pm CDT]

 

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com has a new Rumblings & Grumblings column posted in which he runs down a plethora of trade-related topics. You’ll need to read the full post to get all the information and analysis, but here are some of the highlights …

 

The Rays are waiting until next week to make any decisions on whether or not to trade ace David Price. However, as Stark points out, it could still be a difficult judgment call as to whether or not the Rays are close enough to go for it or far enough back to sell. Tampa is currently seven games back of the division lead and four and a half games back from a Wild Card berth.

 

One executive tells Stark that he’s convinced the team will move Price if they get a big enough offer. Said the exec, “They’ve really built their team by making these kinds of deals. But if the return they can get now is something they think they can get this winter, they’ll hold him.” Another exec tells Stark that waiting until the winter could reduce the return in a trade by 30 to 40 percent.

 

Stark runs down the possible landing spots for Price, calling the Dodgers the favorite, but noting that L.A. has said it will not part with both Joc Pederson and Corey Seager, even in a Price trade. The Mariners are the second choice, he notes, with the Cardinals listed third followed by the Giants and Blue Jays (both of whom are painted as long shots by Stark).

 

If the Rays do sell Price, they’ll be open for business and listen on a number of other players, including Ben Zobrist, Matt Joyce and Yunel Escobar. Their preference is to deal Price and Zobrist in separate trades, if that comes to pass.

[GD]

So what are the rumored offers for Price so far?

 

Salazar and Santana back in the offseason

 

Maybe something around Urias from LAD

[G-Snarls]

But now let's remember who they are. This may be the most analytical team in baseball. It isn't a team that has gotten where it has gotten because it's run by people who make decisions like this with their heart. They make shrewd, calculating business decisions. And they're about to make another one.

 

So they don't just have to determine whether they think they're going to be the best team in the AL East from here to the finish line. They have to determine whether they're going to be seven games better than the rest of their division over the next two months.

 

And if not, is it worth hanging on to Price for a chance -- and, frankly, not a good chance, mathematically speaking -- to play one wild-card game, probably in Anaheim, to make keeping Price worthwhile?

 

They don't have to trade their ace. Not now. Not even in December. And they will walk away from any deal if they don't get what they need to make it worth their while. You might not believe that, but other teams do. Those teams have told us repeatedly: They do not think Friedman is bluffing when he says that.

[G-Snarls]

Full article definitely worth reading BTW

[NorthOf49]

So what are the rumored offers for Price so far?

 

Salazar and Santana back in the offseason

 

Maybe something around Urias from LAD

Gausman and Bundy plz

[GD]

Gausman and Bundy plz

 

lol if that happens

 

all teh lulz

[shortstop]

barring a disastrous week ahead, rays are going for it imo...i'll be shocked if they trade major pieces...

[shortstop]

they are only 4.5 games away from a wildcard notwithstanding a disastrous start to the season...quite remarkable...

 

and the team isn't playing out of its mind - imo, they're playing to their capabilities and the way Friedman/Maddon thought they'd play like since they resigned Loney, brought in Balfour, kept Price, etc...

 

anywho, all just an opinion, we'll see which way the wind blows...should be a very interesting week ahead!

[G-Snarls]

they are only 4.5 games away from a wildcard notwithstanding a disastrous start to the season...quite remarkable...

 

and the team isn't playing out of its mind - imo, they're playing to their capabilities and the way Friedman/Maddon thought they'd play like since they resigned Loney, brought in Balfour, kept Price, etc...

 

anywho, all just an opinion, we'll see which way the wind blows...should be a very interesting week ahead!

 

It has been a very remarkable turnaround. But to go all in in hopes of a wildcard seems foolish for a team with assets to trade and $ to save. They'll be dealt.

[intentional wok]

It has been a very remarkable turnaround. But to go all in in hopes of a wildcard seems foolish for a team with assets to trade and $ to save. They'll be dealt.

 

The Red Sox waking up this weekend and helping them along this line of thinking would be nice too.