"Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price is inching closer to the biggest payday of his professional career. The same goes for center fielder B.J. Upton.

The two are the priciest of the four remaining arbitration-eligible Rays, a list that includes starter Jeff Niemann and recently acquired right-handed reliever Burke Badenhop.

Major league teams have until noon today to exchange contract figures with the representatives of their arbitration-eligible players. If agreements are not reached, the sides head to arbitration hearings, which begin Feb. 1."