The Seattle Mariners are looking to solidify their grip on one of the wildcard spots in the American League Play, and reports indicated that they are planning to make trades before the July 31 MLB trade deadline.

CBS Sports' John Heyman reported that the Mariners are talking to the Rays about a trade for second baseman Ben Zolbrist, who could provide veteran presence to the young Seattle squad.

Zolbrist is just hitting .266 this season with six homeruns and RBIs, but Mariners executives are reportedly convinced that the 33-year-old utility man could improve their playoff chances this season.

The Mariners have a 51-44 record, which is only good for third place in the American League West race, but enough to take one of the two available wild card spots in AL play.

Fox Sports' Jon Morosi also confirmed Seattle's interest in acquiring the nine-year veteran, but he also revealed that ace pitcher David Price could also be included in the deal. Zobrist is still the main focus of discussion between the two clubs, but the Mariners are also very interested in Price.

"Mariners are having ongoing trade discussions with Rays regarding David Price and Ben Zobrist, sources say," Morosi posted on his Twitter account.

The Rays are reportedly open to trading Price, who is 9-7 this season with a 3.23 ERA. The 28-year-old pitcher will become a free agent after the current season, and the Rays want to trade the left hander instead of losing him via free agency this summer.

However, the likelihood of the Price-to-Mariners trade depends on the seven-year veteran's willingness to play and sign a long-term deal with Seattle, which is highly unlikely at this point based on his agent's comment last offseason.

"Price's agent Bo McKinnis told Ken Rosenthal at the winter meetings that Price wouldn't sign an extension in Seattle, and while Price said at the All-Star gathering Monday he'd leave those comments to his agent, he suggested he loves the south or somewhere near his Tennessee home," Heyman wrote.

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