[It’s happening. Updates below, with Cub-related implications.]
Wonder if something’s about to happen on David Price …
blue jays making major run at d. price. they have the interest and prospects to get deal done. http://t.co/wxR1wHx33l
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2015
Executive involved in bidding for Price believes #BlueJays may indeed be close to landing him. “Not going to go on much longer,” he said.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2015
A #BlueJays offer of LHP Daniel Norris, LHP Matt Boyd, and CF Anthony Alford may be enough to get David Price from #Tigers.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2015
blue jays are closing in on d. price. would be huge get for them. needed pitching. he's one of best.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2015
Sources: Toronto has emerged as strong favorite for David Price, could consummate deal soon. @JonHeymanCBS first noted the Jays' emergence.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2015
These are usually the kinds of reports you see when a deal is about to happen.
If Price does go to the Blue Jays – who were very much in the market for a pitcher – that leaves the Astros and Dodgers out in the cold. The Astros may wind up going harder after the Padres’ starters, and the Dodgers may make a push for a guy like Mike Leake. The odds that the Cubs end up with someone like Ian Kennedy would increase (not that I’m complaining – I still think he, together with Will Venable in a package, would be a very solid, cost-effective move for the Cubs).
It also all but assures that Price will reach free agency after the season.
But are the Blue Jays really about to land Price, or are the Tigers playing some games? See here:
#Astros can become players in the David Price talks, as well, if they include McCullers or Velasquez in their offer. (1/2)
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2015
#Tigers need high-level pitching piece for Price. Norris would be it from Jays. McCullers or Velasquez vs. Norris a tough question. (2/2)
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2015
Now, if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’m out to go buy The Wife a birthday cake. While wearing the Rally Bucket.
UPDATE:
While I was getting The Wife a birthday cake …
Blue Jays about to get David Price, and what am I doing? #BNBlogathon #RallyBucket #GetTheWifeACake pic.twitter.com/EmALVmbqno
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) July 30, 2015
… the Blue Jays and Tigers agreed to a David Price deal, according to multiple reports. It sounds like the Tigers will at least be getting pitching prospect Daniel Norris (who is very good and intriguing). (UPDATE in the UPDATE: Also pitching prospects Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt – each a top 20 type.)
The implications of the deal are many, but, right off the top, you can ignore anyone kvetching that the Cubs didn’t get Price. They were not seriously involved, nor should they have been. Elite rentals costing elite prospects are not a great idea for teams gunning for the Wild Card (tell it to the Blue Jays, I guess, but they’ve still got a crack at the AL East).
Instead, the implications are more about a rental arm going off the market to a rental-seeking team (that’s a good thing, as it didn’t take a rental arm off the market without also taking a rental-seeking team off the market), and about what happens next. The Astros didn’t get Price, so they may now step up their efforts to get an arm from the Padres. The Dodgers didn’t get Price, so they may step up their efforts to get a rental like Mike Leake.
The Cubs, meanwhile, may continue to bide their time.
Price cannot be made a qualifying offer now – won’t be tied to draft pick compensation after the season – and will almost certainly reach free agency. If you were hoping the Cubs were going to have a legit crack at him in free agency, this is a good thing.