David Price trade rumors: Tampa Bay Rays might end up keeping Price
By Hayden Kane
If there is one thing we know as the 2014 MLB season turns to August and the fun of playoff races, it is this: any team that has a legit ace holds a distinct advantage over their opponents. That line of thinking reportedly has the Tampa Bay Rays seriously thinking about keeping David Price rather than trading him.
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The Rays knew the importance of having a guy like Price when they chose to keep him this past off-season rather than dealing him. They also kept their ace because they believed that they had a legit shot at not just a playoff berth, but a run to the World Series and a possible championship.
Those expectations have certainly been tempered at this point given Tampa Bay’s struggles in 2014, but with a recent winning streak, they are starting to think about the playoffs. That has them thinking about keeping Price for reasons similar to those from the off-season.
This is a growing sentiment, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes about the thinking behind it from Tampa Bay’s perspective:
"Thus, the Rays will be overwhelmed in a trade or simply wait until the offseason to deal Price…“Like the offseason, they budgeted to keep him and go for it and will do that or they will trade him if they get a knockout deal,” one AL executive said. “Nothing has changed. This is an organization that always believes in staying flexible.”"
The Rays still think they can make a run in 2014. Their recent winning ways mean that is not a completely crazy idea, and if those winning ways continue over the next 10 days, the Rays just might keep Price.