Jays finally land their pitcher, but at what cost to their farm system?

After an off-the-charts trade that brought them shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, the Toronto Blue Jays are at it again.

This time, they've added lefty pitcher David Price, giving the Detroit Tigers three pitching prospects, including their best prospect, lefty Daniel Norris.

Price, 29, will get 11 or 12 starts for the Blue Jays. He'll make their rotation better and with a lineup that has a 95-plus run differential, the Blue Jays are going to be a force.

He will join Mark Buehrle, knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, Drew Hutchison and Marco Estrada in the rotation.

Price will be his usual dominant self. Buehrle is on a roll with a 2.38 ERA in his last 15 starts. Estrada is the Blue Jays' second-best pitcher with some experience. Hutchison was expected to progress this season and has't. His ERA is a 5.00 in his last 15 starts. Dickey is having an extended period of command issues. His walk totals are a concern, with 47 in his 21 starts.

The Blue Jays now have emptied their system to win this year. Tulowitzki comes from Colorado and replaces Jose Reyes at shortstop. Reyes is a former National League batting champion and was considered a strength, except that his defense range was lacking. Tulowitzki is an upgrade there.

The Blue Jays are about as unconventional as can be.

In the offseason, they had catcher Dioner Navarro, but they signed Russell Martin to an $80 million contract. They had an up-and-coming third baseman in Brett Lawrie, but they traded him to Oakland for Josh Donaldson, who will be getting votes in the American League MVP race.

The bullpen is better with 42-year-old LaTroy Hawkins, who came in the Tulowitzki deal, helping Aaron Sanchez and Robert Osuna. Sanchez is a top-notch starting prospect who has been moved to the bullpen. Osuna is talented, but still only 20.

The Orioles can't score with the Blue Jays, but the Orioles have a better bullpen, a stronger defense and a better rotation, especially with Chris Tillman pitching like an ace.




Tillman receiving treatment on ankle (and other no...
Orioles lineup vs. Tigers
 

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