The Los Angeles Dodgers' pursuit for starting pitching before the trade deadline may have just gotten even more clouded. The enormous trade market for starters could be turned upside down if the Tigers decide to make David Price available. There's a good chance he could become the Dodgers' top option.
As we've mentioned earlier today, Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reported the Tigers are prepared to put Price and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on the market before July 31, which is going to alter the landscape and likely change the Dodgers' plans for acquiring starting pitching.
Trade rumors have linked them to top starters such as Cole Hamels and Johnny Cueto, but will Price's availability have president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi ditch their current endeavors?
"The possibility of the Tigers trading David Price threatens to completely disrupt the trade market, giving buyers another option, and perhaps the best option of all," FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal said. "Price, for example, would shoot to the top of the Dodgers' wish list, making them less likely to land Cole Hamels or Johnny Cueto. The shifting dynamics could lead to a frantic deadline."
How will this shift everything around?
"Here's the way [the market] could get complicated," ESPN Insider Buster Olney said on the Baseball Tonight Podcast. "For example, the Dodgers and other teams have been waiting for the Reds to speed up the Johnny Cueto talk. Well, now, the Reds might find other teams slowing down the Johnny Cueto talk because they're feeling might be 'we're going to play this out because we want to know if David Price is actually going to be available.'"
The Dodgers and Cubs are two clubs that have remained in touch with the Philadelphia Phillies regarding Hamels and it's believed Los Angeles is the favorite to land the left-hander given a variety of circumstances (his remaining salary and desire to be closer to home as well as the Dodgers' stacked farm system). But now, some of those prospects in the potential Hamels deal could be sent to Detroit for Price if that's an option. Also, Friedman is said to be interested in Cueto, but Price's availability would likely take precedent since they're both rentals.
And wait. Who made the trade that sent Price to Detroit at last year's deadline?
"Keep in mind that Dodgers executive Andrew Friedman drafted Price with the Rays, and Friedman knows Price as well or better than any of Friedman's peers," Olney added in his column on Tuesday. "Keep in mind that Friedman and Tigers GM David Dombrowski arranged a Price trade last summer and can build off that history of assessing value and making a deal. Friedman needs a starting pitcher, and he's probably not going to sit around and wait for the Phillies -- with their history of recent intransigence -- to put something together."
Even though Price is an impending free agent, the Dodgers may pursue him as if he's under club control for a number of seasons. If the left-hander is immediately put in a favorable position to win - such as in Los Angeles - then there's a chance he'd be more inclined to sign a long-term deal with them when the season ends. There will be competition to sign him in the offseason, particularly with the Chicago Cubs, where Price's former manager is running the show, so if the Dodgers can acquire the ace and provide him with an NL West title as well as a deep postseason run, they'd present a strong case to retain him long-term.
What's scary is that the Dodgers could make a run at two aces because they certainly have the prospects and money to do so, especially if Greinke plans to opt out after the season.
It's not a foregone conclusion Price will be made available. If the Tigers go on a big run within the next 10 days they'll be right in the thick of the wild-card race and possibly the division race, which would make them buyers. However, be prepared for the trade deadline to be one of the craziest in recent memory if the Tigers fall further out of the playoff race and decide to sell.
