Heading North: Tigers trade David Price to Blue Jays
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The Toronto Blue Jays traded away part of their future Thursday for a two-month rental.
That's how confident Alex Anthopoulos is in the impact of left-handed ace David Price.
The Blue Jays general manager pulled off his second monumental trade this week, acquiring Price from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for a package of prospects that includes highly touted left-hander Daniel Norris. Detroit will also receive minor-league pitchers Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt in the deal.
Price is expected to join the team this weekend and could make his Blue Jays debut as early as Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.
"We feel we added a No. 1 starter," Anthopoulos said Thursday. "Getting a guy like Price, those guys can make you a great team all by themselves."
The acquisition of Price is a major coup for a club that just days ago landed superstar shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies in a blockbuster six-player trade.
"(Price) is a winner," Anthopoulos said. "He fits what we are trying to do from a character standpoint."
A former Cy Young winner, Price bolsters a thin starting rotation and complements the league's highest-scoring offense. Toronto entered Thursday seven games back of the New York Yankees in the American League East, but just two games out of the second wild-card spot.
Toronto will reportedly absorb the roughly $8 million in salary that remains on Price's contract this season. The five-time All-Star is set to become a free agent this winter for the first time in his career.
"I still prefer to acquire players with control. We're always looking to get players with control, " Anthopoulos said. "The unfortunate part is David Price only has the remainder of the year under our control. That doesn't mean you walk away from him."
Price, 29, is in the midst of another impressive campaign, crafting a personal-best 2.53 ERA with 138 strikeouts in 21 starts. The stunning deal reunites Price with the AL East, where he spent parts of seven seasons pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Acquired by the Tigers in a three-team trade at last season's deadline, Price is coming off a career-high 248 1/3 innings with a league-leading 271 strikeouts in 2014.