MLB Trade Rumors: Marlins Open to Possibility of Adding David Price?

With Jose Fernandez out for the season due to Tommy John surgery, the Miami Marlins rotation has not been what it had been advertised to be coming into the 2014 season. Since Fernandez went down, they’ve seen their rotation battle a number of up and downs, with Henderson Alvarez only delivering any consistency.

Due to the struggles of the pitching staff and the retaliative mediocrity of the National League East, the Marlins front office has sought ways to upgrade the rotation. Unfortunately, prospects Andrew Heaney and Anthony DeSclafani didn’t pitch as well in the majors as the Marlins had hoped.

With the rotation in constant flux, the Marlins have opened up to the idea of seeking pitching outside of the organization. Earlier today, Marlins President of Baseball Operations Mike Hill joined Jim Bowden on his Sirius 209 XM 89 radio show. Hill told Bowden that the Marlins inquired the Cubs about right hander Jeff Samardzija, before he was traded to the Oakland A’s.

The Marlins don’t have a prospect the caliber of Addison Russell in their minors and were more than likely not going to include top prospect Andrew Heaney in any package for Samardzija. For that reason, the Cubs probably never took the Marlins inquiries on Samardzija very seriously.

Hill also told Bowden that the Marlins owner Jeffery Loria would entertain trading for a big name, if it helped them win. Bowden had specifically asked about Rays star David Price.

If the Marlins didn’t have the prospect power to land Samardzija, they surely don’t have what it takes to land Price. After the Cubs-A’s trade and the Yanks trading for Brandon McCarthy, the starting pitching market has shrunk by 3 quality pitchers. Due to that, the market for Price’s services is going to be busy.

That’s if Price even hits the open market. The Rays have played well of late and can still make a run in the AL East. If the Rays feel like they can make a serious run, they won’t put Price on the market and will wait till the off-season to see what the market for the left hander will be.

No matter if Price hits the market or not, the Marlins do not have what it will take to acquire him, as the Rays will be demanding a top prospect, akin to Russell in any trade talks.