DETROIT (AP) - Toronto acquired All-Star left-hander David Price from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, the second major move in less than a week by the Blue Jays as they chase their first postseason appearance since 1993.
After obtaining slugging shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from Colorado, the Blue Jays tried to shore up their rotation by adding Price, likely the top remaining starting pitcher on the market.
"These types of players, the great superstar players, rarely become available," Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "We think we're a good team and adding a guy like Price we think makes us that much stronger and will give us a chance to win. It's as simple as that."
The Blue Jays sent left-handers Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt to the Tigers in the deal. Price can become a free agent after this season.
Speaking in the Detroit clubhouse before the Tigers faced the Orioles in Baltimore, Price was excited about joining a contender - even if he did refer to the Blue Jays as "they" instead of "we."
"They've got a good thing going on right now in Toronto," he said. "They've kind of been in this situation before and didn't make these type of moves. It definitely shows you that they want to win right now. You have to respect that. You have to like it and that's what you want to be a part of."
Toronto has scored more runs than any other team in the major leagues but is just one game above .500 after Thursday night's win against the Royals.
Now, however, the Blue Jays appear ripe to make a run.
"By adding these two," Toronto manager John Gibbons said, "it gives me a shot in the arm. I know that."
Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson said: "You look around the clubhouse, you're going to see a lot of All-Stars. It feels like you're almost playing fantasy baseball."
Price was traded at the deadline for a second straight year. He went from Tampa Bay to Detroit in a three-team blockbuster last July - one of several bold moves the Tigers have made in the last few seasons while winning four straight AL Central titles.
Price is 9-4 with a 2.53 ERA this season. The 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner will anchor a Toronto rotation that includes Mark Buehrle and 2012 NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey.
The Blue Jays will pay the $7,122,151 remaining on Price's $19.75 million salary for this season.