Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports said on MLB Network the Red Sox are “all-in” on Price. Farrell, who appeared on WEEI Tuesday night, believes Jackie Bradley Jr.is the choice in center, assuming Bradley remains on the team’s roster through what is sure to be a trade-rumor-filled offseason for him.
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It took Bradley’s first full month of success at the plate before the Red Sox chose to insert him in center and move Betts over to right on September 16. “Dave Dombrowski is all in”.
Dombrowski hinted in August that pitching was the team’s “primary focus”, and he stuck to his word by trading a number of top prospects for closer Craig Kimbrel.
The 30-year-old Price, who is expected to command a contract in the ballpark of seven years for $200 million, finished second in Cy Young voting in 2015 after leading the American League with a 2.45 ERA, in addition to his 15-8 record garnered between stints with the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays. Now, the Red Sox are going to try and land another big name, possibly one of the biggest free agent pitchers available. I think Price is the right guy to go after. Heyman reports that the San Francisco Giants are looking to sign Greinke away from the Los Angeles Dodgers and that LA could go after Price if Greinke leaves.
“To get someone on the front of this rotation, it’s going to come on the free-agent market”. And while then-outfield coach Arnie Beyeler said during the summer he hoped Betts could start making more of the spectacular catches that had been going just off or over his outreached glove, Betts began converting numerous highlight-reel plays later in the year.
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While the 2012 American League Cy Young Award victor has likely recovered from the wounds he suffered from Ortiz through the media last season, you have to wonder whether Price’s sour experiences with the Red Sox in the past will affect his desire to sign with Boston long-term, even with Ortiz planning to retire after the 2016 season.
