Finishing 110-63 in regular season and 6-4 in postseason with the Red Sox, Lester proved to be reliable.
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By the time he left the event hosted by former major leaguer Wally Joyner in Long Beach, Calif., Price had agreed to become a member of the Boston Red Sox with a deal that will make him the richest pitcher in history.
Price and Zack Greinke hovered above the market as the two elite starting pitchers available. So much for Price having reservations about playing in Boston or with Red Sox icon David Ortiz. And generally speaking, that’s a wise business philosophy.
And while Mozeliak continues to court very expensive free-agent right fielder Jason Heyward and possibly covets super utilityman Ben Zobrist, whose value clearly is appreciating on the open market, the Cardinals face this reality: There will be no discounts on starting pitching this offseason.
As it stands now, Dombrowski has won the winter before the cold even set in.
But there are exceptions to every rule, as Henry proved by signing off – kicking and screaming, no doubt – on Price. No Garrett Richards or Carlos Carrasco either. He has won six of seven decisions with a 1.95 ERA against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Everyone knows what happened next. The total guarantee surpasses, by $2 million, the previous record for a starting pitcher – the extension signed by Clayton Kershaw with the Dodgers.
While the Yankees preached they weren’t going to pass the $189 million payroll mark prior to the 2014 season, the Opening Day payroll that year was $197 million and by the end of the season the tab for the 40-man roster was $218 million. Dombrowski has had a hand in all three of Price’s moves the past two years.
Amazing, isn’t it, what a desperate owner will do?
And the difference between them sure as heck isn’t $82 million, which represents the gulf separating the Sox’ best offer to Lester from their winning bid for Price.
Interestingly enough, over the course of the last 16 months Dombrowski has traded for David Price, traded him away to Toronto Blue Jays, and now signed him to a record setting deal – making his first big free agent splash as a member of the Red Sox front office. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports is reporting that Price contains an opt-out clause after the third year of the contract.
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In addition to his contract, by losing out on Price, the Cubs can now focus their money on several impact players opposed to just one.
