Chicago Cubs Rumors: Breaking down possible pitching options

Mar 16, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher David Price (14) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Tigers 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

David Price – Detroit Tigers

The biggest reason Price remains a likely target of the Chicago Cubs is his relationship to Joe Maddon.

Maddon managed Price down in Tampa Bay as skipper of the Rays and knows exactly what he would be getting in the left-hander. I wouldn’t consider this to be such a major factor if not for the Cubs’ signing of Jon Lester this past offseason.

Clearly, familiarity is something this front office values – and Maddon’s ties to Price should only further their cause this offseason.

For Detroit this season, the southpaw ranks ninth in Major League Baseball with a 2.54 ERA and is tied for fourth in wins with nine. Not only has he been effective this season, but he’s done so over a large body of work, already racking up 125 innings this year.

Price turns 30 in May, so, again, age isn’t a major concern with this deal. That being said, he’s pitched less than 200 innings just once since 2010, so a heavy workload could lead to arm issues down the road.