David Price, one of the biggest free agents on the market, has reportedly agreed to a 7 year deal with the Boston Red Sox worth 7 million. Dombrowski paid a hefty price in giving up four legitimate prospects, but knew he had to give something to get what he wanted. (The Red Sox won the World Series in 2013.) On its way to a 78-84, last-place finish in 2015, Boston brought in Dombrowski and he quickly went to work rebuilding the once-proud ball club (see full recap).
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It is also the largest deal ever for a starting pitcher and is $2 million more than what free agent Clayton Kershaw was given. It was important for them to get an ace of the staff. Price will anchor the rotation that includes Rick Porcello, Clay Buchholtz, Wade Miley, Joe Kelly, and Eduardo Rodgriuez. Having one of the best pitchers in baseball will also help the rest of the rotation this season. Dombrowski traded for Price from Tampa Bay in July 2014 and, in of his his final moves with the Tigers, traded away Price to the Toronto Blue Jays a year later. But the 2012 AL Cy Young Award victor struggled in the AL playoffs, going 1-2 with a 6.17 ERA.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ moves so far this offseason, signing free agent pitcher J.A. Happ and re-signing pitcher Marco Estrada, do not seem to have resonated with oddsmakers.
The 30-year-old spent the end of the 2014 and the beginning of 2015 in the Motor City before being traded for the second time in his career.
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick followed that up and reported Price will make $31 million in the fourth year and $32 million in each of the following three years. He joins a rotation that yielded a 4.39 ERA last season, the third highest in the AL. With the money the team has, could they possibly sign several starting pitchers?
The Red Sox could hit, but they had the second-worst ERA in the American League.
Price, 30, will immediately hop to the front of the Red Sox pitching staff, which was recently upgraded via the acquisition of big-time closer Craig Kimbrel from the Padres. With the former Cy Young victor switching sides, the Red Sox are now poised to challenge the Blue Jays for the top spot in the AL East. You can say that the Red Sox overpaid, but one could counter that they didn’t have a choice. That pitcher was Justin Verlander, who signed for a then-record contract at age 30 with the Tigers.
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David Price finished last season with a 18-5 record and a 2.45 earned run average.
