Meh. Anthopolus is pledging people for fools. He traded for a talent he knew could not be retained in Price. Price is going to the highest bidder. He knew the Blue Jays would and could not be. Yet even before he left there were unsourced rumors that AA ' wanted to keep Price but it wasn't his decision.' So basically he dealt for a player he knew he couldn't retain, then was passing the buck for that decision even before he left.
Like I said, he mortgaged the Jays future for a playoff run and for whatever reason the Jays let an impending FA GM make long-term decisions. Anthopolus looks golden, leaving on a high note despite that contention being unsustainable. Morale: don't let your GM operate on a one year deal and if ya do, don't let him deal away your farm system on a one year run.
Meh. The Jays have as many resources as any of the big market clubs-- re: Price. Toronto is one of the biggest markets in North America and the Blue Jays popularity exploded this year from coast to coast. It was a good gamble and the price wasn't exactly steep, either, for both Tulo and Price.
Let's not get carried away here about the Blue Jays bare farm system and unsustainable contention. This is a farm system, even after the trades, with Reid-Foley, Pentecost, Pompey, Alford, Harris, Tellez, Greene and Vlad Jr. I don't think he mortgaged their future whatsoever.
About the Blue Jays unsustainable contention? Pompey (22 y/o), Pillar (26), Tulo (31), Goins (27), Encarnacion (32), Donaldson (29), Travis (24), Colabello (32), Martin (32), Cecil (29), Hendriks (26), Hutchison (25), Osuna (20), Sanchez (23), Stroman (24). That's a lot of players in the prime of their careers....
AA had his ups and downs. Obviously the Syndergaard/d'Arnaud for Dickey trade is one he wants back. But he pulled a heist on Oakland by acquiring Donaldson and same with Detroit by getting Devon Travis. Fact is, none of those deals are possible without AA acquiring the prospects needed to complete those deals. Same thing with the Reyes/Buehrle trade with Miami a few years back. Everyone says the Blue Jays emptied their farm after every trade and yet AA replenishes it year after year-- Billy Beane does this all the time. I think AA is a loss for the Blue Jays.