The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly getting calls for David Price, who is expected to be dealt before the MLB trade deadline on July 31, with reports naming the Seattle Mariners as the most likely landing spot for the veteran pitcher.

Bob Nightingale of USA Today reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves and the Mariners are tipped to acquire Price, who is 8-7 with 159 strikeouts this season.

And among the teams that have the assets to convince the Rays to trade the 28-year-old pitcher, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports said that the Mariners should make a quick move to lure Price into their bullpen.

Rosenthal said the Mariners, who are currently third in the American League West with a 50-43 card, should make a conscious effort to improve their rotation to increase their chances of making noise in this year's postseason.

"If the Mariners can't enhance their run production, they might as well upgrade their run prevention," Rosenthal wrote. "The idea is to outscore your opponent, any way you can. Imagine a rotation featuring right-hander Felix Hernandez, the left-handed Price and right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma. The M's barely would need to score."

The Rays have been mum about their plans on Price, but they are expected to move the left-hander instead of running risk of losing the six-year veteran via free agency after this season.

The Rays are just waiting for the right offer to come, and Rosenthal pointed out that the Mariners have the pieces to land Price, who is playing in the final year of his contract that pays him $6 million this season.

"The Mariners can afford Price," Rosenthal wrote. "They won't get a discount on the acquisition cost, not with other teams certain to be bidding. But they have the players to pull off a deal with the Rays."

Rosenthal reported that a rival executive is convinced that the Mariners could get price as long as Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik is willing to offer a trade package involving Taijuan Walker, Nick Franklin and D.J. Peterson.

Related