Cardinals Interested if the Price is Right
With an upcoming series against the Cardinals, many of the Tampa Bay Rays players chose to attend the Dodgers-Cardinals on Sunday night, including David Price. With Monday's scheduled MRI for Michael Wacha and his uncertainty for the rest of the season, The Cardinals may be in need for a starting pitcher. Price is due for a large payday in the near future and the Cardinals have made it clear they won't make a trade unless they can negotiate with him.
It's been rumored that Price would be on his way out for the last couple of months, but with the Rays playing better as of late, questions started to arise about the Rays future with the lefthander. If Price truly is on the market, then he's been putting together quite an audition tape. Price is 5-1 in his last 6 starts, averaging nearly 10 strikeouts with a 1.13 ERA.
The Cardinals starters, on the other hand, have struggled in that same time period, with an ERA of 4.19 and boasting a 10-7 record. Shelby Miller and Carlos Martinez have really struggled over the last month. Miller is 0-2 with a 7.58 ERA, while Martinez is 2-1 with a 5.08 ERA. Despite Kelly's return, the depth of the Cardinals rotation has become a concern.
If the Cardinals are willing to make a trade, they may have to give up future prospects, not excluding Taveras, Wong, or Carlos Martinez. Price would also command a payday nearing the 7-year, $215 Million deal of Clayton Kershaw or the 7-year, $180 million deal of Justin Verlander.
With the Cardinals two game series vs. the Rays starting on Tuesday, a deal may be worked out by the weekend. After a recent offensive spike, picking up Price to bolster the rotation may be enough to put the Cardinals at the top of the National League.
