And you thought the Oakland/Boston trade was big. This deal is bigger, and it involved perhaps the biggest named starting pitcher rumored to be available: David Price.
Here are the current particulars…
Detroit Tigers acquire David Price (from TB)
Seattle Mariners acquire Austin Jackson (from DET)
Tampa Bay Rays acquire Nick Franklin (from SEA) along with Drew Smyly and Willy Adames (from DET)
The Tigers didn’t exactly need Price, but they certainly bolstered the top end of their rotation. They simply went and got him (or is it “got heem”?)
The Mariners add another player to their outfield in getting Jackson after getting Chris Denorfia earlier in the day. The Tigers had received Jackson in, oddly enough, a three-team deal that sent Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees. In Seattle, Jackson will be reunited with M’s manager Lloyd McClendon. Prior to this season, McClendon was the Tigers hitting coach during Jackson’s time in Detroit.
The Rays receive a good arm in Smyly and the Tigers #3 prospect in shortstop Adames. Adames has a slashline of .346/.428/.774 with 6 home runs and 50 RBI at Low-A West Michigan of the Midwest League. With Franklin, the Rays get another shortstop, but Franklin has played second base for the Mariners. Hmm…
Yes, the Oakland A’s now boast a strong top four with today’s acquisition of Jon Lester, but the Tigers are certainly keeping up with the Joneses.
What makes this deal even more interesting is that Price knows the Tigers could attempt to keep him beyond next season. Remember, Max Scherzer reportedly had turned down a six-year, $144 million offer from the Tigers this past spring. Whether that was on the advice from his agent Scott Boras or not, it could all be a moot point now. Price knows that money is there. Scherzer has to think that money he turned down is now possibly earmarked for Price.