Media reaction: Dave Dombrowski swings for the fences with David Price, countering Billy Beane and Jon Lester

Detroit Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski swung for the fences today, trading two of his younger building blocks in Drew Smyly and Austin Jackson in order acquire the best starting pitcher on the trade market. Joining the Tigers already excellent starting rotation is 2012 Cy Young winner David Price from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Still stunned over the Price deal, seeing Jackson pulled mid-game, the Tigers cornering the market on MVPs and Cy Youngs and having no CF.

— Bless You Boys (@blessyouboys) July 31, 2014

You could take several reactions from what is a risky and controversial deal for Detroit.

It was Dombrowski's response to Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane's shot over the Tigers' bow in picking up battle tested starting pitcher Jon Lester from the Boston Red Sox.

All in favor of the non A’s-Tigers AL teams just dropping out so we can get this grudge match, say I. I.

— David Cameron (@DCameronFG) July 31, 2014

This Dave Dombrowski vs. Billy Beane chess match has been something else.

— Tony Wittkowski (@TonyWittkowski) July 31, 2014

Dave Dombrowski's balls vs Billy Beane's balls. This time it's personal.

— Jonah Keri (@jonahkeri) July 31, 2014

If the Tigers did get Price and we didn't get another A's-Tigers ALCS I'd be the saddest lad in all the land.

— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) July 31, 2014

Tyler Kepner, The New York Times:

The Oakland Athletics acquired an ace starter with a glittering World Series pedigree Thursday morning, and it may not have even been the most significant deal of the day.

In a dizzying spree of moves before the 4 p.m. Eastern time deadline for trades without waivers, the A’s got Jon Lester from the Boston Red Sox, while the Detroit Tigers countered by obtaining David Price from the Tampa Bay Rays.

The trade was the Tigers literally and figuratively going "all-in" this season in their attempt to win a World Series before octogenarian owner Mike Ilitch exits this mortal coil.

All I know is that I never say anything is out of the question with #Tigers Dombrowski and Ilitch. Talk about all in.

— Dana Wakiji (@FSDwakiji) July 31, 2014

So for those of you keeping score, #Tigers have traded 3 of top 5 prospects in last week. Chips all in for the Detroit.

— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldFS1) July 31, 2014

ESPN:

With a lineup anchored by Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Ian Kinsler -- and that remarkable rotation -- Detroit has remained in first place for almost all of 2014. The Tigers tried to shore up one trouble spot -- the bullpen -- by trading for Joakim Soria last week.

Now Detroit has emerged with Price in another bold move aimed at bringing a championship to the Motor City.

Knowing the odds are good Max Scherzer will walk after this season, Dombrowski acquired another unquestioned ace. Pirce is currently under team control until the end of the 2015 season, giving the Tigers additional time to negotiate a long-term deal.

Tigers obviously believe they can sign Price long-term. Which will be another $175-million, long-term pill they'll insist on swallowing.

— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) July 31, 2014

Price acquisition takes sting out of saying farewell to Max Scherzer this winter for #Tigers, huh? Wow

— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) July 31, 2014

Tigers have Price/Verlander/Sanchez/Porcello for '15, plus draft pick from whoever signs Scherzer. A's won't get draft pick for Lester.

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) July 31, 2014

James Shields said he was shocked to see David Price traded into the division. He was not exactly thrilled about this development.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) July 31, 2014

Or could the deal be in response to Justin Verlander's struggles?

Dave Cameron, Fangraphs:

We can’t know that from the outside. The Tigers might not even know that with the information they have available. When it comes to pitcher health, all anyone can really do is guess, though a team’s guesses are far more educated than ours. That the Tigers pushed in on David Price seems to suggest that perhaps they aren’t 100% counting on Justin Verlander this October. At least, not as a starter.

As good as their rotation will be, the Tigers still have question marks. It starts with "Bull" and ends in "Pen."

Can David Price pitch out of the bullpen?

— Bless You Boys (@blessyouboys) July 31, 2014

The White Sox have scored 3 unanswered runs off the Tigers' bullpen. Well, some things never change.

— Bless You Boys (@blessyouboys) July 31, 2014

By dealing their best defensive outfielder in Austin Jackson, there's something else to consider.

Let's hope the new rotation lives up to the billing. Without Jackson, the Tigers' already bad defensive outfield will be God awful.

— Bless You Boys (@blessyouboys) July 31, 2014

So you may get to know Ezequiel Carrera soon, who was blocked by Jackson and is hitting .307/.387/.422 at Triple-A Toledo.

Ezequiel Carrera was blocked for one reason only at Toledo: No team needed a CFer, which is what he is, purely. Tigers knew it. Now, room.

— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) July 31, 2014

To sum up what was a crazy couple of hours:

We know @Tigers made a good trade. Either @Mariners or @RaysBaseball did not, but we don't know which one.

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 31, 2014