The reports connecting the Chicago Cubs and David Price are as strong as they have ever been, but this is not a huge surprise. Last year, we heard about Price wanting to join the Cubs in order to help bring back a championship to Chicago and many in and around the game believe there is a legitimate chance those rumors come to fruition.
On his podcast, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney said that he has heard that the Cubs are “heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy favorites” to sign Price in free agency.
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com wrote that “two agents for starting pitchers predict that Price will sign with the Cubs.” In addition to the two agents, an executive that knows Price told Rosenthal that he believes that the Cubs are Price’s first choice.
Price, 30, has been a target of the Cubs for awhile and now that he is free to sign anywhere he pleases, the Cubs make the most sense for him, given his desire to play in Chicago and his relationship with manager Joe Maddon.
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Price in a trade before the trade deadline, meaning that he is not eligible to receive a qualifying offer, which makes him a more attractive target for the Cubs and other teams interested in his services.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Cubs are willing to give into Price’s steep contract demands, but it is clear that they will be a big player in attempting to sign him.
Follow Robert Murray on Twitter: @RobertMurrayBBE
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