The Tampa Bay Rays have traded their ace David Price to the Detroit Tigers in a three-team swap involving the Seattle Mariners. Austin Jackson was removed from a game in progress against the Chicago White Sox and informed he was going to the Seattle Mariners as part of the deal.
Four-player deal confirmed: David Price to Tigers, Austin Jackson to Mariners, Nick Franklin and Drew Smyly to Rays. No other prospects.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2014
Source: #Rays also get minor-league SS Willy Adames from #Tigers in Price trade. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2014
Drew Smyly started for the Tigers today, as did Jackson in center field, but neither will don Detroit jerseys tomorrow. Smyly is headed to Tampa Bay, along with Mariners infielder Nick Franklin, and Detroit shortstop prospect Willy Adames, the Mariners are receiving Jackson, and the Tigers get the big kahuna in Price.
The deal leaves the Tigers with the last three American League Cy Young winners all in the same rotation, and could mean Justin Verlander will be a fourth starter come playoff time. It is a slam dunk for Detroit-Price is having the best year of his career in terms of strikeouts (189), and has the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of his career (8.22).
The Mariners began the day in search of right-handed power, and landed two players to try and fill the void. Earlier in the day they acquired Chris Denorfia from the Padres, but Jackson is the piece they're looking for as an everyday bat. Jackson has struggled this season, batting just .270 with four home runs and 32 RBI. Still, his upside is better than what Seattle's been able to trot out day after day.
As for the Rays, they had been streaking upward so the move appeared to be a head scratcher with a total return of just Smyly and Franklin. Smyly is a sturdy young pitcher, but hasn't shown the type of upside to be a No. 1 or No. 2 starter and Franklin, while highly regarded, has flopped in his MLB opportunities. He batted just .128 in 52 plate appearances this season, and hit .225 412 appearances in 2013. It was reported late that Adames had been included in the deal though, so he figures to sweeten it.
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