The Cubs were among the first teams to inquire about Tigers ace David Price, but they will not pay a premium price for any rental acquisitions before the July 31 deadline, according to multiple reports.
Price, 29, will be a free agent after the season, and the Tigers recently announced their plans to be sellers before the trade deadline.
The Cubs immediately showed interest, reports 670 The Score. They are among roughly eight teams showing interest in the left-handed Price.
And while the Cubs would like to acquire another pitcher before the deadline, they’re unwilling to pay a premium for a player who may only be a two- or three-month rental — like Price, reports USA Today.
The Cubs need more starting pitching to be serious playoff contenders, and Joe Maddon admitted the desire Wednesday.
“We do, and everybody else does,” Maddon said. “Everybody is looking for that other guy.”
But, as the Sun-Times’ Gordon Wittenmyer reports, industry insiders question whether the Cubs will be able to land the sort of pitcher they seek.
The return to games for Javy Baez this week in the minors could help that if the Cubs decide to shop him as they were before he got hurt seven weeks ago. Sources say the Cubs recently gauged the market interest in Starlin Castro but found little potential traction.
If the season ended today, the Cubs would be in the playoffs via the wild card. But, without any additions to the roster, the next two months could be a challenge for a young, untested team in its first postseason hunt.