With Cole Hamels having been traded to the Texas Rangers, David Price is now the biggest prize remaining on the MLB trade market. While a number of teams are interested in landing the left-hander, the Price sweepstakes may wind up being a one-horse race.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reports that MLB executives are “absolutely convinced” that Price will wind up with the Los Angeles Dodgers. L.A. would likely have to part with left-hander Julio Urias — the best pitcher in the team’s farm system — in any deal for Price.
Nightengale adds that the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros all intend to make serious offers for Price. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Blue Jays are making a “strong run” as the deadline nears.
The Astros could be a team to watch, as they missed out on Cole Hamels earlier this week. The Philadelphia Phillies had apparently accepted a deal from Houston, but Hamels exercised his no-trade rights. The fact that the Astros offered a package the Phillies deemed fair indicates they are serious buyers.
Price will be a free agent after the season, but the Dodgers have shown in recent years that they are not going to let money stop them from trying to build a championship roster. There was no better example of that than the blockbuster trade they made a few seasons ago. The Dodgers currently hold a half-game lead over the San Francisco 49ers in the NL West division, and a playoff rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Price could make them a World Series favorite.
UPDATE: Price ended up with the Blue Jays. More on that here.
