Rays rumors: David price 'not taking a discount'

Left-hander David Price is open to signing a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Rays, but he told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that he's "not taking a discount" in order to remain with the club.

Price continued on to say that he doesn't "play this game for the money," but at the same time, he doesn't want to be "underappreciated." Based on what he's done for the organization, the 27-year-old would be fine with being shown a little appreciation in the form of a lucrative contract extension.

However, this doesn't appear to be a reality. Price was voted as the best pitcher in the American League last season, and his counterpart in Seattle, Felix Hernandez, just signed a seven-year, $175 million extension. Tampa Bay can't afford shelling out that type of cash at this point, and Price is aware of the fact that he could be traded as soon as this summer.

Price is under team control through 2016, but he's the same distance from free agency as fellow Rays' starter James Shields was before he was dealt to the Kansas City Royals this offseason. If Tampa Bay is unable to get off to a quick start, Morosi believes the club could shop the southpaw leading up to the trade deadline.

Last season, Price maintained an ERA of 2.56 with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.47. Over five seasons in the majors, he owns a career ERA of 3.16.