Alex Anthopoulos, Blue Jays GM, isn't the 'kid' anymore
Deadline moves made with eye towards snapping playoff drought
It could be a high-risk, high reward personality, it could be a penchant for the dramatic, I don't know him personally, but it could have something to do with the first trade of his career.
Fresh off being named only the sixth general manager under the age of 40 in MLB history in 2009, he was tasked with dealing ace Roy Halladay, who was entering the final year of his contract.
Talk about trial by fire.
The rookie sent Halladay to the Phillies for catcher Travis d'Arnaud, right-hander Kyle Drabek and outfielder Michael Taylor.
It was the best of bad situation.
Fast forward 2128 days.
Through a range of moves involving prospects and other players, Halladay has essentially become current roster players Devon Travis, R.A. Dickey and Josh Thole.
Adding to a team where free agents have been reluctant to sign is likely tough, I don't know for sure, but I do know AA has had to be incredibly creative to get where he has his club as of July 31, 2015.
He's also needed good talent assessment and a bit of luck.
In this span, AA has acquired arguably the MLB's best left side of the infield in Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitski, along with one of its top throwers in David Price. All through trade.
He acquired Edwin Encarnacion through trade and Russell Martin through free agency.
On what will likely be the combination of the new bench; Chris Collabello was claimed off waivers, Ezequiel Carerra signed a minor-league contract, Danny Valencia and Justin Smoak were acquired in trades, they drafted Ryan Goins and signed Dioner Navarro.
There was some bad luck along the way, see J.P. Arencebia, J.A. Happ, Ricky Romero etc.
Claiming the sky is falling after giving up blue chip prospects doesn't really look at the full picture.
You can sit safe forever; baseball is said to be a game of inches, but it is also a game of gambles.
"All-in" moves
Sometimes you roll the dice, and after an over two decade long playoff drought, AA decided the time was now. Some moves were made for today and some for next year and beyond.
David Price is as of now, only in a Blue Jays uniform for 11 starts, but he's the biggest representation of the team's desires to do something in 2015.
Veteran reliever Mark Lowe strengthens the Jays pen, and is a free agent at the end of the season. It's the same for LaTroy Hawkins.
Some questionable defence at shortstop has been upgraded with Tulowitski, who is also an offensive improvement over the departing Jose Reyes. He's locked up through 2020.
Left field, the Jays biggest weakness this season outside of pitching, has been taken care of with outfielder Ben Revere from the Philadelphia Phillies. He's arbitration eligible at the end of the season, and is due for a raise over his current one-year deal at $4.1 million US.
It's likely either Kevin Pillar will move to left field for Revere, who is hitting .298 and fielding 1.000 this season, or Revere will take over duties in left.
Revere is also a better leadoff option than Tulowitski, a spot left vacant with the Reyes trade.
It took five years, nine months and 29 days, but Anthopoulos isn't the 'kid' GM anymore. He's going for the big time.