The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a seven-year, $217 million deal with left-handed starting pitcher David Price, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.
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Price’s signing and price tag associated with it indicates that pitching is indeed at a premium this offseason, and with many big competitors and suitors missing out on the lefty, the price of the remaining free agent pitchers will continue to drive itself up. And David Price will be filling that void, as the two sides agreed to a seven-year deal worth $217 million, averaging out to $31 million per year. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports later added that there is no deferred money but there is a three-year opt out (likely a player option).
He went 18-5 with a 2.45 earned-run average last season for the Blue Jays and Tigers, including a 9-1 regular-season record with Toronto. The deal now looks like to be desperate decision taken by the Red Sox hoping that Price would do wonders for them.
This story will be updated.
You’d like a 2016 projection to get your Price business started, and here’s my best guess: 17 wins, 2.89 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 219 strikeouts.
Since signing that eight-year deal with the Tigers, Verlander has struggled mightily, battling injuries and velocity issues en route to a 33-32 record and a 3.84 ERA over the past three seasons. The Red Sox have never broken the bank like this before on a pitcher.
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman posted a lengthy goodbye message to Price on his Instagram account along with a photo of the two pitchers Tuesday night. Now, it will be interesting to see the next moves of Dave Dombrowski as he attempts to make the Red Sox a contender. He is a 5-time All-Star who won the AL Cy Young award in 2012 with the Rays and has finished within the top six in Cy Young award voting on four occasions. Price can opt out after the 2018 season.
Price, who because he was traded last July does not carry any compensation, has spent his entire career in the American League and all but one full season in the American League East.
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The ace pitcher moves from one AL East team to another.
