David Price to Blue Jays: Latest Trade Details, Reaction and Analysis

For the second consecutive summer, former Cy Young winner David Price is on the move. The left-handed star will now anchor the Toronto Blue Jays rotation for the rest of 2015. 

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Detroit Tigers agreed to trade Price to Toronto in a blockbuster move Thursday, for a package including top pitching prospect Daniel Norris. Bob Nightengale of USA Today confirmed the report. The Tigers announced the trade later in the day, along with the full package of Norris and left-handed pitchers Jairo Labourt and Matt Boyd.

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports likes the deal for both teams:

Morosi also said the Blue Jays are still in the market for a starting pitcher after acquiring Price.

The Tigers acquired Price from the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2014 trade deadline, hoping he would be a missing piece for their quest to win a World Series. It didn't happen, through no fault of Price's. In his one playoff start for the Tigers (against the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series last October), Price allowed two runs in eight innings. 

This season has been a disaster for the Tigers, though they haven't fallen apart. Despite hovering around .500, Miguel Cabrera is out until August, Justin Verlander's decline has been precipitous, and Price, with a 2.53 ERA in 21 starts this season, has been the only regular starter with an ERA under 4.00.

Even though Detroit owner Mike Ilitch is 86 years old and has spent a ton of money over the last five years to see the Tigers win a World Series, reality was eventually going to set in for this franchise. There's only so long a team can play at a high level with a nucleus of players over the age of 30. 

Dealing Price months before he is due to hit free agency was going to make it difficult to get maximum value given how talented the 29-year-old is. He's one of the few elite pitchers in baseball and can transform a rotation.

Blue Jays stars Marcus Stroman and Josh Donaldson celebrated the reports on Twitter:

With a team ERA of 4.02, good enough for 22nd in baseball, there's no doubt Price is a fantastic addition for the Jays. He'll give them the ace they've been desperately craving. Paired with recent addition Troy Tulowitzki, he increases the chances of a deep postseason run. 

Left-handed starting pitchers don't come much better than Price. His long-term future will be determined this offseason, but the Blue Jays will be reaping immediate rewards that hopefully include a postseason appearance with him starting Game 1 of a playoff series.