The Tampa Bay Rays have been talked about for much of the season as big sellers, with left-handed ace David Price their big prize. After going 9-1 in their last 10 games though, it's unclear whether or not the Rays will still deal the former Cy Young winner.
Price doesn't believe the talks of trading him have been the catalyst for their suddenly hot play, though. "I know nobody in this clubhouse wants me to leave," he said.
Brewers a sleeper candidate to grab David Price?
"I don't think we've been going out and playing games with the mind-set that we need to win so I can stay. That's the last thing I want these guys doing, and I know we haven't been doing that. If you do that, you're just applying a little more pressure on yourself."
Rays manager Joe Maddon might be in disagreement though. "It may," Maddon said.
"I can't deny that. I know that I normally have a meeting with the team at the All-Star break, but I didn't do that this year. I had it about a month before the All-Star break. ... We talked about a lot of things, and I clearly challenged them to, 'Let's just do something that's never been done before.'"
Price has posted a 5-0 record, with a 1.36 ERA and 39 strikeouts in July, and overall has gone 11-7 with a 3.08 ERA and 183 strikeouts with just 20 walks.
He's been linked to the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals so far, with the Cardinals reportedly considering a package involving their best prospect, outfielder Oscar Taveras.
This is my last start for the Rays....IN JULY!!!
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