David Price's future with Rays uncertain

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price was happy to see the team extend teammate Evan Longoria this past week, but the reality of the situation is that Price may not be Longoria's teammate for much longer.

Price is about to enter his second of four arbitration eligible seasons, and will likely make in the neighborhood of $10 million in 2013. His salary will continue to grow during that time, though, making it likely that the Rays will trade him before he reaches free agency in 2015. The 2012 AL Cy Young winner would like to stay with Tampa, but the team will have some decisions to make before they make another long term payroll commitment:

"At some point, it stops," he [Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg] said. "You've got to make a decision. We're going to eat steak, and we're going to eat lobster, and we're going to order some wine, but we're not going to be able to turn the heat on, and the house isn't going to get painted."

The Rays had a payroll of just over $65 million in 2012, which was 25th in Major League Baseball. Longoria's six-year, $100 million extension will be a massive chunk of that number, if it remains roughly the same over the next few seasons.