MLB Trades 2015: Analyzing Biggest Deadline Deals

The Toronto Blue Jays dominated the Major League Baseball trading scene close to Friday's non-waiver deadline. The only major league team north of the border swung the two biggest deals in acquiring David Price from the Detroit Tigers, per ESPN.com, and Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies, per Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.

It's rare for a team to acquire two of the best players at their respective positions in a matter of days.

Tulo in Toronto for the Long Haul

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For years, Tulowitzki was seen as the face of the Rockies franchise. Unfortunately for the Mile High City, that didn't led to championships or even winning seasons. At 30 years old, Tulo is still at the top of his game (.302 BA, 13 HR, 56 RBI) and under club control through the 2021 season.

Because of his sustained production and the length of his contract, the Jays felt comfortable dealing away the productive Jose Reyes and three pitching prospects: Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and Jesus Tinoco. The Jays also received veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins in the deal.

Toronto is six games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East and two games behind the Minnesota Twins in the race for the final wild-card spot. The move to add Tulo makes sense in the long term, but it wouldn't appear to help the team's current quest for the postseason.

There's no question Tulo is more of a run producer than Reyes, but the Blue Jays were already the best offensive team in baseball. Didn't this team need pitching to move to the next step?

The Price Is Right

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Some might have believed the Jays were done making a significant splash in the trade market with the acquisition of Tulowitzki. However, when Toronto sent Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt to the Tigers for Price, it was clear the team was making a strong statement about its intentions for this season.

Price is a free agent at the end of the season and probably won't give the Blue Jays much of a chance to retain his services next year. He'll be a rental who will only pay dividends for the Jays if they reach the postseason and win the World Series.

Per ESPN.com, that's exactly what Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos thinks his team can do: "These types of players, the great superstar players, rarely become available. We think we're a good team, and adding a guy like Price we think makes us that much stronger and will give us a chance to win. It's as simple as that."

A playoff berth is nice, but (in my Herman Edwards voice) "you play to win the game." In this case, you play to win it all. If the Jays don't, then they gave away three left-handed prospects for next to nothing. Perhaps they believe they have a real shot to woo Price in free agency. If that's the case, then this could be seen as getting a jump on the free-agent period.

Any way you look at it, this is a significant gamble.

Hamels Is the Biggest Prize

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Toronto definitely made two splashes with its moves, but the Texas Rangers' acquisition of Cole Hamels was the biggest get of the trade deadline. Hamels is fresh off a no-hit performance in his last start, and he's just 31 years old.

He is also under club control until 2020. The Rangers gave up a lot in a deal that will effectively replenish the Philadelphia Phillies' barren farm system. ESPN.com's Keith Law writes:

"

Cole Hamels represented the Philadelphia Phillies' best chance to accelerate the long-overdue rebuilding of their farm system, given his contract and the quality of his performance over the past few years. He makes the Texas Rangers better now and for next year, but at a price that pushes the Phillies' farm system forward significantly.

"

Translation: This looks like the rare trade that actually helps both teams. The Phillies corralled left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison, prized catching prospect Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams and three minor leaguers: Alec Asher, Jake Thompson and Jerad Eickhoff.

The Rangers also received lefty reliever Jake Diekman in the deal. With the sudden influx of six prospects, five of whom could be considered high-upside players, the Phillies' future suddenly looks a little brighter.

Texas is four games behind the Twins for the final wild-card spot, but even if it doesn't make the postseason, it has secured a bona fide ace to pair with Yu Darvish next year and beyond.