Chicago Cubs should avoid David Price without an extension

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly interested in acquiring Detroit Tigers ace David Price as they push for their first playoff appearance since 2008. Price would join a rotation that already includes Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel, making the prospect of adding him enticing for obvious reason for the Cubs.

But unless the former Cy Young award winner agrees to a contract extension at the time of the trade, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility, it’s not worth it for the Cubs to forfeit multiple top talents. It’s another story if the Tigers get desperate and sell their ace for pennies on the dollar. But if Price goes for what he’s worth, it’s not worth it for Chicago.

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The Cubs are back in contention for the first time in a while, which could make Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer trigger happy and going after players that can bolster Chicago’s chances at making a postseason run in 2015. But unless those players are sticking around beyond this season (Cole Hamels, Jay Bruce, Sonny Gray, etc.), they need to stay patient and let this year’s roster play out with 2016 in mind.

Just because Chicago is competing this year doesn’t mean they have to be in World Series-or-bust mode just yet. That time may eventually come, but they have a young core that figures to be in place for some time. 2015 is about letting that core get acclimated to the majors, seeing what they can do and proceeding as the club sees fit in the offseason. If a playoff berth or more also comes this year, that’s icing on the cake.

There is some value to getting a young team to the playoffs for the first time, then letting them have World Series expectations upon a future return to the postseason. But if that’s the motive behind pursuing Price, the Cubs can achieve the same thing much more affordably by going after lower-cost rentals like outfielder Gerardo Parra or reliever Tyler Clippard. A postseason berth is a plausible possibility for Chicago this season, but forfeiting multiple young talents that, if nothing else, can be used as rental trade ammo in future years with higher expectations, would be a foolish and overly ambitious venture.

Should the Cubs go after a more controllable talent like Hamels, a controllable starter/reliever on the Padres (Tyson Ross, James Shields, Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Cashner and Joaquin Benoit are all available) or Oakland starter Sonny Gray (who is not actively available but has been mentioned as one of this year’s potential out-of-nowhere trade candidates), then Epstein and Hoyer shouldn’t be as reserved in moving young minor-league talent.

Players that can help both in 2015 and in future seasons are the types that will be of value and service to this young Cubs team. But going all-in on David Price and losing multiple top prospects to land what will likely be the second wild card berth? Not worth the price.

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