Now that Johnny Cueto has been moved to the Royals, one can’t help but wonder if fellow ace David Price will be on his way out of the AL Central. A deal could very well take place, but it probably won’t happen until very close to the deadline, agent Bo McKinnis told MLB Network Radio.
“[Last Thursday], I had some folks that asked me my thoughts. Then, I said I feel like if they were to go 5-3 in those eight, that [Tigers president/GM Dave] Dombrowski would hang onto him [past the deadline],” McKinnis said, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck. “Well, since I made that comment of them needing to go 5-3, they’ve actually gone 2-2 … so it’s kind of hard to say I’m optimistic about us staying. Yet I have no doubt that Dave’s going to drag it to Thursday or Friday. If I was in his shoes, that’s what I would do, because this team was set up to win, and it’s just kind of hard to throw in the towel.”
McKinnis also addressed speculation that there haven’t been contract talks between Price and the Tigers. That chatter is “incorrect,” though McKinnis says that the two sides have been too far apart to ever make serious headway towards a deal.
When asked about the prospect of allowing another team a 48-hour window to negotiate a long-term deal, McKinnis wouldn’t rule it out, but he seemed skeptical that something could get done.
“I try to never say never,” McKinnis said, “so I’m not going to give a blanket no to that, because you don’t know what’s going to be on the other end. They may offer us a billion dollars. You just never know. So I’m not going to say no to it…We’re sitting here two months away from free agency. It’s kind of tough to not wait on that, but I’m not going to say it’s impossible to at least entertain something of that nature.”
The Tigers aren’t necessarily opposed to granting a 48-hour window, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. A high-ranking Tigers official told Morosi that the team has no such policy against doing that, even though such windows are rare in MLB trades.
Still, it’s not certain that Price will get moved. If the Tigers keep their ace, they’ll look to add between now and the deadline, Buster Olney of ESPN.com tweets. Right now, they’re currently in the market checking on upgrades.
I would imagine that they would be more interested in Cole Hamels or James Shields. Can’t imagine they would want 3 of their best 5 starters to depart at the end of the season for FA.
No one is interested in Shields unless the Padres eat a big chunk of his contract
…or the Padres just throw someone like Cashner into the deal. But you’re right. The Padres need to add value into a Shield package for any team to even consider a deal – whether that be monetary or in the form of a second player.
My guess is that Mike Ilitch is too old to sign off on a rebuild, but I also think the Tigers are leery of what would happen if Price left via free agency. Given the return on Johnny Cueto this afternoon, my guess is that Detroit pulls a trade similar to the Lester for Cespedes deal a year ago – wherein they deal for a high-quality big leaguer w/ one-year remaining on his deal. That would, at the very least, buy the organization some time.
Chapman would fit that description.
What does Cincinnati gain in that deal? They won’t be able to QO him.
He would. But what incentive would the Reds have in dealing for a guy w/ 1-year remaining on his deal? Are you suggesting a 3-way trade?
Rumor has it Mr. I kid is running the show now while Mr. I focuses on the new Red Wings stadium project. If that’s the case, it may be that the Tigers are bound for a more reasonable payroll in the new future
Is it likely that Dombrowski and other teams would be working towards a deal so that once ownership says sell it’s done?
I’m sure Dombrowksi is fielding calls to do his due diligence. But if ownership says they’re not going to trade him, then Dombrowksi shouldn’t be fielding calls. You get a bad reputation when you start negotiating in bad faith like that.
Trading Price to the Cubs with a 48 hr negotiation window makes sense.
If I’m Dombrowski, I only trade Price if I can get a MLB-ready top pitcher back, like Severino or Norris. If you get a bunch of 19 and 20-year olds back for him, you’re basically throwing in the towel for this year (when they’re only 3.5 GB) and next year, when they’ll still have a formidable roster even without Price.
What would you think about Strasburg?
I’d do that trade if I was dombrowski
Hamels for Price then Price from Philadelphia to the Cubs for top prospects if the 48 hr extension window can be worked.
Interesting idea.
But Hamels salary is going to be a lot cheaper then Price’s. And what Price’s agent is looking for is a Schurzer type contract that took weeks of negotiating before it was finalized. There are too many issues – primarily legal and how they structure the financial compensation – to work out in a 48 hour window.
I’m just taking Price as the Cubs primary target. I do think they’ll be after him over the winter. Just using 48 hrs as a general guideline.
I think Price would be a good acquisition for the cubs, but from the tiger’s side, the trade doesn’t match up. The tigers need major league ready pitching, preferably cost controlled, and the only player on the Cubs that fits that description is Kyle Hendricks
Tigers probably have to flip Price for a similar package as Cueto brought. I’m convinced the Cubs will go after him this winter, though. Maybe the Cards on Price? Dodgers make sense. I know the Tigers need arms…but the Cubs do have sheer talent to deal and might pay to avoid a bidding war over Price in free agency. Toronto is another possibility