The MLB trade deadline is finally over and we have had a week to digest. In Pittsburgh the feeling once again is that the Pirates made little effort to improve the team. Normally I am the first person to bash the Pirates for not making a move to improve the ball club, but this year is different. I truly believe the Pirates general manager Neil Huntington made drastic efforts to improve the team, but was rejected by a player’s wishes.
We all know the highlight of the trade deadline was where former Cy Young winner David Price would end up. He was by far the best player available and he is even signed through next season. I thought a team would have to break the bank to get Tampa Bay to trade the young ace, but I must admit I was extremely surprised when I saw the return that the Rays received. Considering the Red Sox traded a lesser pitcher (Jon Lester) for a young All-Star right fielder (Yoenis Céspedes), I thought the sky was the limit on the David Price trade. It was shocking when they traded him for just three mid-tier prospects that are barely worth noting.
Effect of the David Price Failed Trade
I will admit I desperately wanted the Pirates to acquire David Price because a dominant force at the top of the rotation could solidify them as a serious Postseason contender. When rumors came out about the Pirates pursuing Price, and having a chance to get him, I was doubtful. However, I researched a little further and discovered many reports that the final offer the Pirates had been willing to part with for Price was former All Star Jeff Locke, Josh Bell (74th best prospect according to MLB.com), and Alan Hansen (67th best prospect according to MLB.com) as long as Ben Zobrist was included with Price.
When the Pirates did not make a deal for David Price, I was furious. Did the Pirates pull that offer off of the table at the last second? If the Pirates offered an array of talented prospects and an All Star pitcher, why did the Rays accept a trade headlined by an average pitching prospect, a below average reliever, and an 18 year old minor league shortstop?
Rays general manager Andrew Friedman commented to reporters that Price “wanted to be traded to a winner” when asked why he did not trade David Price to the Pirates.
It all came together then in my mind. David Price rejected the notion to play for the Pirates and that caused Tampa Bay to panic and pull the horrible trade to Detroit at the last moment. David Price didn’t want to deal with the same low budget game in Pittsburgh as he already had been dealing with in Tampa. David Price got the big-budget team he wanted in Detroit; hopefully he remembers that money does not buy championships.
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