The Toronto Blue Jays have done it again.
After landing shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies a couple of days ago, the Jays have now added 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner David Price, giving the team a bona fide ace. In exchange for Price, the Jays sent the Detroit Tigers three left-handed pitching prospects — Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt.
In 2015, Price is 9-2 with a 2.53 ERA having fanned 138 batters in 146 innings pitched. Price, of course, began his career with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the number one pick in the 2007 MLB Draft. He came to the majors the following year when the Rays shocked the world and won the AL pennant. Price finished runner up in the AL Cy Young balloting in 2010 to Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners before winning the Cy Young in 2012.
Price was dealt to the Tigers in a three-way trade with the Mariners exactly 364 days ago. The Tigers, widely expected to win the AL Central, have been a major disappointment and since Miguel Cabrera went on the shelf have fallen flat on their faces. They are currently 12½ games back of the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central. Although they are 3½ games within the Minnesota Twins for the second AL Wild Card spot, Tigers President & GM Dave Dombrowski has given up on the 2015 season. There’s a good chance that the Tigers will also trade Yoenis Cespedes, closer Joakim Soria and catcher Alex Avila.
As for the Blue Jays, they are in third place in the AL East seven games back of the New York Yankees and a game back of the Baltimore Orioles. But they are also only 2 games back of the Twins for the second AL Wild Card spot. What a difference 1½ games makes.
Chances are, Price will be a rental as he becomes a free agent at the end of 2015. But as of right now, the Price is right for the Toronto Blue Jays.