The blockbuster trades aren’t over yet.
With just minutes until the deadline, the Tampa Bay Rays made the Detroit Tigers the winner of the David Price sweepstakes, sending their ace to the Motor City in a three-team trade, according to multiple reports.
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal first had the news, with CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman confirming shortly after.
Detroit’s Austin Jackson — who was pulled in the middle of the seventh inning during Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox when the news was announced — will head to the Seattle Mariners while left-hander Drew Smyly — who started today’s game against Chicago — and Seattle infielder Nick Franklin will both be going to the Rays. A third player, prized Class A shortstop prospect Willy Adames, also will go to Tampa Bay.
With the addition of Price, the Tigers’ starting pitching is formidable to say the least, as he joins an already solid group that consists of Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez and Justin Verlander. Detroit now boasts three Cy Young pitchers in its starting rotation as Verlander won in 2011, Price won in 2012 and Scherzer earned the honors in 2013.
Price, whose name was floated around plenty ahead of the trade deadline, is 11-8 with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 23 starts this season. The four-time All Star is eligible for free agency after next season.
The clubs have not yet confirmed the reports.
UPDATE (6:44 p.m.):Â The Rays, Tigers and Mariners all confirmed the trade via Twitter.
[tweet https://twitter.com/tigers/status/494959357738500098Â align=’center’]
[tweet https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/494959866675351552Â align=’center’]
