PRICE IS RIGHT FOR DETROIT IN 3-TEAM SWAP
In a three-team trade, the Detroit Tigers acquired pitcher David Price from the Tampa Bay Rays; the Seattle Mariners acquired outfielder Austin Jackson from Detroit; and the Rays acquired pitcher Drew Smyly and infielder Willy Adames from Detroit, and infielder Nick Franklin from Seattle.
What does it give the Detroit Tigers
On a day that saw several surprising turn of events, the Tigers came up with perhaps the most interesting move of this year's trade deadline by landing Tampa Bay ace lefty Price, who now gives Detroit an incredible 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation with righty {P Max Scherzer}. It did cost the Tigers their starting center-fielder though (Jackson), as well as their No. 5 starter (Smyly) and a top young shortstop prospect (Adames). It'll be worth it when they're winning games in October.
What does it give the Seattle Mariners
Though they didn't get Price, the M's may have won this three-team trade by landing the everyday center-fielder they badly needed in Jackson. He'll instantly improve their offense, whether he bats leadoff or behind {P Robinson Cano} in the lineup. The cost to acquire Jackson was only Franklin, who was no longer needed in Seattle because of Cano's presence. Finally, the Mariners got a quality bat. Is it enough? Probably not for this year, but it's a major step in the right direction.
What does it give the
Ouch. Losing Price now, when the Rays were doing an incredible job of getting back into the race, will definitely sting. However, Tampa Bay got a solid lefty starter in Smyly, who will be used in a more prominent role in their rotation than the No. 5 starter role he had in Detroit. Also, the Rays may have landed their future double-play combination with this deal, as Franklin will probably replace {P Ben Zobrist} at second base in 2015 and Adames is a few years away from taking over for {P Yunel Escobar} at short. Tampa Bay essentially are out of contention after this deal, but the long-term benefits should be pretty good.
Fantasy impact
Price will continue to have awesome fantasy value while in Detroit, and he may face fewer true No. 1 starters now that he's a part of an incredible rotation. Jackson's fantasy value remains the same moving from Detroit to Seattle, but look for him to potentially become more of a run-producer with his new team. Smyly's value is on the rise, and Tampa Bay usually does a great job with young pitching. Franklin's keeper value is better now that he's a Ray, but for now he might not do much in 2014. As for Adames, he may move quickly within the Rays system and has obvious keeper-league appeal as a potential home-run-hitting shortstop.
