July 2014 MLB Trade Deadline Reaction: Tigers, A's Go All-In

All was quiet in Rangers land on Thursday as one of the most exciting days in MLB was heating up. To my surprise, Alex Rios and Neal Cotts are still donning Texas uniforms after the trade deadline.

Around the league, however, there was a frenzy of activity that moved big names to contenders who pushed all their chips to the center. My reaction on the top 3 deadline trades:

1. Three-team trade with David Price: Detroit, Tampa Bay, Seattle

• Tigers get: David Price
• Mariners get: Austin Jackson
• Rays get: Drew Smyly, Nick Franklin, prospect Willy Adames

Analysis: Let me get this straight. For David Price, who not only won the 2012 Cy Young, but is still 29 and in the prime of his career with another year of team control, the Tigers merely parted with Smyly, Jackson and a High A prospect? In what universe? 

Price

To me, this screams "Tampa Bay salary dump" since Price, despite being under team control in 2015, will still be owed $20 million. I can't stand the argument Rays management seems to be making about competitive imbalance in baseball being the primary culprit in this situation. We know it's tough for the money-strapped Rays to afford Price. But damn, get a better haul. You've done it before. Two years ago, you turned James Shields into Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi. Three years ago, you turned Matt Garza into Chris Archer and Sam Fuld.

The whole point? Price is in a separate tier from Shields and Garza. He should command a bigger haul. If you're Tampa, how do you let Seattle get away with giving up only Nick Franklin, a promising prospect who has been dreadful in his short time in the majors? If I'm Tampa Bay, who had lately been playing some of the best baseball in the league and is still in the playoff race, I only engage Seattle if pitching prospect Taijuan Walker is part of the deal. That would have been a more appropriate return for someone of Price's caliber.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have a current rotation of Price, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Annibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello. Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski just dropped the mic on the AL Central race. It's pretty much over.  

2. Boston trades Jon Lester and Johnny Gomes to Oakland for Yoenes Cespedes. 

Lester

Analysis: My esteemed colleague, @geoff_taul, broke this news to me via text early Thursday morning. My first thought was Boston crushed it on this deal. The Red Sox traded Lester and Gomes, both free agents after this season and essentially two- or three-month rentals, for Cespedes, a power bat and outstanding defender who has another year of team control at a friendly $10.5 million. 

Then I started coming around to the Athletics' rationale. They're all in, man, and I respect them for it. They've been one-and-done in the playoffs two years in a row and Billy Beane clearly wants more. At 66-41, Oakland already has the best record in baseball by three games without a proven ace. Lester gives them that, and the depth is crazy good behind him with Sonny Gray, Jeff Samardzija, Scott Kazmir and Jason Hammel.

When the Rangers aren't in the playoffs, I don't watch every postseason game, but if the A's and Tigers meet in the ALCS, that would be riveting sports drama. 

3. Boston trades John Lackey to St. Louis for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly.

Analysis: Injuries to Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia, in addition to the Carlos Martinez rotation experiment falling flat for now, prompted the Cardinals to trade for Lackey, who has proven postseason experience. St. Louis also brought in Justin Masterson in a separate trade with Cleveland, setting up their rotation for the stretch run: Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Lackey, Shelby Miller and Masterson. They're only two games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. I wouldn't be surprised if they win the division.

Boston made perhaps the most interesting moves of the deadline, reloading their lineup with Cespedes and Craig, and moving starters Jake Peavy, Lester and Lackey.

Here's how we look for the final two months of the season. I'm thinking Dodgers-Tigers for the World Series.