With Samardzjia and Hammel Off The Market, Yankees Must Land David Price

Jul 1, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price (14) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

After Friday’s blockbuster deal where the A’s acquired both Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel it’s officially panic mode for the Yankees whose rotation is depleted at this point.  Samardzjia was long thought to be the Yankees best choice of the available pitchers and Hammel was also a great back up choice if the Yankees were not able to land their guy Samardzjia, but now that Oakland has swooped in and got  both of them off the market.  The Yankees will be forced to make a deal for a guy like  the very pricey Price  if they want to contend.

For the past few Months the Yankees have shown high interest in David Price, even going so far as to send scouts to his starts. However you always got the feeling that the Yankees were more so window shopping, or feeling out the Rays ace. The Rays have made it clear that if a team wanted to lure Price away from them it would take at least two top prospects and a possible major league ready pitcher. Its no secret that the Yankees are thought not to have what the Rays are looking for, But in my opinion this is not true!

Price is still available and the Yankees need too make a serious run at him. I do think the Yankees have the prospects to get the job done. If you follow the Rays closely you know that they need young hitters at this point and the Yankees are loaded with them. Guys like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez,  Peter O’Brien, and even Jose Pirela  would probably spark Tampa’s interest. If the Yankees would offer a duo of young talented hitters and a good arm the Rays would be forced to seriously consider the offer.

Many people may not know this but the Rays are FLOODED with young arms and even if they traded Price replacing him would not be as far fetched as they would like teams to believe. Alex Colome is one of the most talented pitching prospects in baseball and has already made several dominate spot starts for the Rays the last two seasons. Ryne Stanek is a first round guy that has been really good for the Rays in the minors, not to mention Jeremy Hellickson, who is  only a few weeks from returning from elbow surgery. Matt Moore, who is already an ace caliber pitcher for Tampa will be returning from Tommy John Surgery, which no longer is a career threatening surgery for pitchers, they often return throwing harder from it then before.

The Rays don’t have the hitting prospects due to whiffs in the draft, they also don’t have the money to pay talented free agents. So if the Yankees would be willing to part with two of their top young sluggers they are definitely in the ball game for Price.

THE YANKEES NEED TO MAKE THIS DEAL!