Atlanta Braves Trade Rumors: What It Would Take To Acquire David Price

Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren has publicly said he’d like to acquire a top of the rotation guy…but to what extent?  We’ve all questioned his comments as well as if the Braves already have a good enough rotation to win a World Series.  Our rotation 1-5 is solid but does it stack up to the top teams #1 and #2’s in the NL?  I don’t think so.

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The Tampa Bay Rays have been rumored to be shopping David Price for over a year now.  Price has been is dominant self in 2014 against AL batters, think what he’d do against NL hitters.

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With a Price move looming in the MLB world, I asked Drew Jenkins of Rays Colored Glasses a few questions about his take on a potential trade between the Rays and the Braves.

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David Price is the Rays #1 pitcher but rumors have been flying for months/years that the Rays are shopping him.  The Braves are looking for a #1 pitcher….With the Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel trade setting the mark for a trade scenario, what would it take/would you would accept for David Price? 

For the Rays to trade Price, it is going to take at least two top-100 prospect types, maybe three if they are lower on the top-100 lists, and also another useful piece or two. From the Braves, Lucas Sims absolutely has to be included. Behind him, if the Braves included J.R. Graham and one of Jose Peraza and Christian Bethancourt plus a lower-level, high upside guy like Alec Grosser then they would have a competitive offer. I believe the Rays would prefer Peraza to Bethancourt given their organizational catching depth, but either would still be in play. Of course, the Braves have to be willing to trade all of these guys to get a deal done.

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What percentage do you think the Braves and Rays have as trading partners?

I say it is a 10% chance that they end up matching up for a trade. The Rays want to trade Price to an NL team, which helps the Braves. The main thing that the Braves lack is a marquee prospect like Oscar Taveras or Joc Pederson that would really pique the Rays interest. If another team offers up one of those type of guys, the Braves will likely be outbid, but it is no guarantee the Rays will receive an offer with this type of player. Also, with the Rays having a recent hot streak, a Price trade at the deadline is no guarantee like it seemed to be a couple weeks ago.