Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos addressed his club’s defensive deficiency at shortstop earlier this week, not to mention bolstering an already dangerous offence, by acquiring Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies.
Anthopoulos suppressed concerns over his starting rotation by landing left-handed starter David Price in a trade with the Detroit Tigers.
The Blue Jays sent a trio of left-handed pitching prospects the other way. Daniel Norris goes to Detroit in the deal along with Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt.
Price is expected to start Sunday in place of Felix Doubront, who was designated for assignment Wednesday. Here is a look at some numbers of interest regarding the Blue Jays’ new ace.
No. 1
Where Price was selected in the 2007 amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
$19.75 million
Price’s 2015 salary. The Blue Jays will pick up the remainder of what he’s owed, which is roughly $7 million.
$210 million
The amount of money the Washington Nationals ponied up to sign right-hander Max Scherzer to a seven-year deal last off-season. Scherzer was 30-years old when he signed the deal and Price will be 30 next month. The Blue Jays should expect to approach Max’s magic number if they intend to re-sign Price.
13
An estimate of how many starts Price is expected to make between now and the end of the regular season. Here’s a breakdown of who those starts could come against.
93.8 mph
The average velocity on Price’s four-seam fastball this season, which is equal to his average in 2008 when he debuted. Price peaked with an average velocity of 95.5 mph in 2012.
5.3
The cumulative wins above replacement of the 10 pitchers who have started at least one game for the Blue Jays this season. By comparison, Price has been worth 3.5 wins thus far in 2015.
2012
The year Price was named the American League’s Cy Young Award winner while with the Tampa Bay Rays. Fellow Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey captured the award in the National League when he was a member of the New York Mets.
10
The number of post-season appearances by David Price. He’s 1-5 with a 4.50 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 40 innings.
11.4 per cent
The percentage of strikes batters have swung at and missed vs. Price in 2015. That’s his highest mark since 2008 when he appeared in five games down the stretch with the Rays.
6
The number of pitchers the Blue Jays have traded in the deals that landed them Price and Tulowitzki.
32.7 per cent
The percentage of pitches outside the zone that batters have swung at vs. Price this season. That’s a career high.
16/1
The Blue Jays’ odds to win the World Series since acquiring Price. They were listed at 25/1 prior to the deal.
14
The number Price has worn in the majors with both the Rays and Tigers. Justin Smoak has surrendered the digits to Price in Toronto, apparently.
