The Athletics’ haul for right-hander Trevor Cahill should be a pretty good indication of what the Rays might expect for righty Wade Davis.

Davis, 26, is the starting pitcher the Rays are most likely to trade. Cahill, 23, is younger and more accomplished, but Davis is much more of a bargain – he will earn $3.65 million less per season over the next six years if both pitchers’ contracts are executed to completion.

And really, the respective performances of the two pitchers aren’t all that different.

Cahill, who has one more year of service than Davis, is 40-35 with a 3.91 ERA in 96 career starts. Davis is 25-22 with a 4.22 ERA in 64 starts. Their strikeout, walk and baserunner rates are even more comparable.

For Cahill, the Athletics acquired righty Jarrod Parker, a top pitching prospect, outfielder Collin Cowgill, who some clubs view as a better version of Cody Ross, and righty Ryan Cook, who throws 95 to 98 mph and could become a quality reliever.

Clubs might not view Davis as highly, but the greater affordability of his contract might make him even more appealing to mid- and low-revenue clubs in need of rotation help – clubs such as the Reds and Marlins.

-Ken Rosenthal