2015 Trade Deadline: Will David Price Gain Or Lose Value In Toronto?

The Toronto Blue Jays haven’t just dove into the trading pool this year. They did a cannonball. After making a huge splash by acquiring Troy Tulowitzki, they made another on Wednesday afternoon by bringing in Detroit’s ace: David Price.

He did not come cheap for the Blue Jays. Here is what the trade looks like:

The Blue Jays have destroyed their farm system to win this year, but I also think that Toronto would not have given up this much talent if they didn’t think they at least had a chance of signing Price in the offseason. Price is 9-4 with a 2.53 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched. He also has three complete games and a shutout, which will help out the Toronto bullpen quite a lot if they can’t land another arm for there.

Price pitched in the AL East for nearly seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, compiling a 82-47 record with a 3.18 ERA in his time there, so there is no reason to expect his numbers to get worse. If anything, you can probably pencil him in for a few more wins with the best offense in baseball going to bat for him. Price is not yet 30, and is still at the top of his game. If you can put together a package to get him, he should help you in your quest for a fantasy title.

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Daniel Norris was the top ranked prospect in Toronto’s system, and takes over that spot for Detroit as well. He is most noted for living in a van down by the river, but Norris is not without talent. He started the season in the majors, but was sent down after going 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 5 starts. Norris was just 3-10 for AAA Buffalo, but his ERA isn’t that bad at 4.27 and he still managed 78 strikeouts in 90.2 innings pitched.

The Tigers immediately promoted Norris to the bigs, and he will get his first start for the Tigers on Sunday against Baltimore. Norris is a guy to keep an eye on in all fantasy leagues, but I would avoid his first start against Baltimore. If you have a bench spot, he is worth stashing to see if he can help you down the stretch. Just make sure you use discretion before throwing him out there.

Matt Boyd was a sixth round pick of the Blue Jays in 2013, and is already the seventh best prospect in Detroit’s system. His stellar performance between AA and AAA this year (9-2, 1.68 ERA) prompted his ascension to the majors, but he was destroyed for 11 earned runs in just 6.2 innings pitched over two big league starts. He will pitch at AAA for Detroit, but figures to be back in the majors before the end of the season. I wouldn’t use him unless he proves that he can pitch in the majors first.

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There is a good chance that Boyd will replace either the struggling Shane Greene (4-8, 6.72 ERA) or Kyle Ryan (1-2, 6.19 ERA) in the Detroit rotation in the very near future. If you were desperate enough to use either Greene or Ryan, pick up Boyd. I doubt he could be any worse.

Those of you who watched the Futures Game over All Star weekend got a sneak peek of Jairo Labourt. He was struggling at high-A Dunedin this year (2-7, 4.59 ERA in 18 starts), but you saw some of the electricity in his pitches in the Futures Game. He won’t be on the fantasy radar until 2017 at the earliest, but once he is, he could make an immediate impact.

I have always thought that Detroit could be both buyers and sellers at the deadline this year, but with the Royals going all-out and the White Sox on a tear, they likely thought better of gutting their system. Still, if Norris and Boyd can do better than Greene and Ryan, the Tigers won’t be that far off from where they are now.

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for the fantasy impact of all of the trade deadline deals!

Next: How Will Aramis Ramirez Do In Pittsburgh?

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