MLB Rumors: Latest Rumblings on David Price and More as Deadline Approaches

The Cincinnati Reds and other juggernauts of this summer's MLB rumor mill continue to make waves as the non-waiver trade deadline of July 31 at 4 p.m. ET approaches.

With football training camps yet to fire up, basketball falling into a slumber and nothing else worthy of stealing the spotlight in the heat of summer, the rumor mill is free to run wild with major names such as David Price, Johnny Cueto and more.

This is just the beginning, too. Things will do nothing short of intensify as the march continues, the days looking like years for teams, players and especially fans.

Below, let's take a look at the latest to keep pace.

Detroit Selling?

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

From the sounds of it, the 47-win Detroit Tigers are ready to act as sellers for the first time in a long time as they flounder in third place in the American League Central.

Of course, the first player who comes to mind when one hears about a sale in Detroit should be stud pitcher David Price, he of a 2.31 ERA, 9-3 record and 134 fanned batters.

According to Bruce Levine of CBSChicago.com, the Chicago Cubs were first in line for the Price sweepstakes: "Will there be a sale in Detroit and a Price reduction? The Chicago Cubs wasted little time this week reacting to the sudden availability of left-handed ace David Price, according to multiple sources."

Here is where things get murky—everyone seems to know Price won't be back in Detroit when his contract expires this offseason, a notion FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal noted.

Chicago needs pitching, sure, but what if there is no guarantee Price will ink an extension? USA Today's Bob Nightengale provided some interesting context:

Either way, it looks like the Tigers will be out a star pitcher. The Cubs would love to have Price on board while they sit at 51 wins and in wild-card contention, especially with only Jake Arrieta above five wins this year.

In the coming week, it will be quite interesting to see how Price's market develops and what the Cubs would be willing to pay for a potential rental should their postseason hopes intensify.

Kevin Gausman's Future

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

There is an odd situation going on between the Baltimore Orioles and 24-year-old pitcher Kevin Gausman.

Gausman is a special talent with plenty of upside, although he's yet to break through and match the hype. One could argue, though, that the team does not help him much thanks to his ridiculous travel schedule and lack of familiar surroundings.

More on the above in a second. For now, understand that ESPN's Buster Olney hears the Orioles may be willing to deal the young hurler:

The LSU product touts a 5.18 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 12 appearances this year.

As ESPN Stats & Info points out, though, it might be understandable that Gausman continues to struggle:

Regardless, teams are bound to have an interest if the rumblings prove true. High-profile pitching prospects are not so easy to find. The Orioles are in the middle of a free fall at fourth in the AL East, so management may look for a quick outside fix.

If so, things around Gausman could heat up. It's something worth watching in the coming days.

Kansas City's Hunt for Pitching

Sitting in first in the AL Central, the Kansas City Royals are the talk of the mill for their interest in the big names on the market.

To be specific, it sounds like the team wants a shot at Cueto of the Reds or Yovani Gallardo of the Texas Rangers, per Jon Morosi of Fox Sports:

Of course, the note says "among many other options," and it's something to consider, but the mention of Cueto and Gallardo together shows just how far management might go to secure another piece to the puzzle.

It's no secret the Royals need an elite front-line starter if they want to stand a serious shot at the World Series. None of the rotation's top five starters features an ERA under 3.15.

Cueto, despite an iffy situation around him and a 6-6 record, features a 2.79 ERA with 115 strikeouts and a 0.95 WHIP, per ESPN.com. Keep in mind, he does his damage in the batter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

Gallardo, the same age as Cueto (29), sits at 7-9 with a 2.91 ERA, 80 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP. While good, he might be the riskier of the two options considering he has only just hit a resurgence after joining the Rangers in January, and his walk rate hasn't faltered. 

Again, other possibilities exist, but it seems clear the Royals are ready to grab a big name and sacrifice young prospects in the process. In other words, as most expected, they are the team to watch.

Stats and info courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise specified.