December 1, 2015

Red Sox Sign David Price To Highest Contract Ever Given To A Pitcher

The Red Sox have signed free agent David Price to head their 2016 rotation. Reports state that the team and Price, who turned 30 last August, have agreed on a seven-year, $217 million contract. Annual salaries: 30, 30, 30, 31, 32, 32. 32.

Ian Browne of mlb.com reports that the deal for the left-hander "is the largest contract ever awarded to a pitcher, narrowly edging out the $215 million extension Clayton Kershaw signed with the Dodgers and the $210 million pact Max Scherzer signed with the Nationals."

It appears that there is a three-year opt-out, so some SoSHers are calling this "a 3 year, $93 million deal with a player option for a 4 year, $124 million extension".

Price thought he was going to sign with the Cardinals today, but he ended up picking Boston. St. Louis' bid ended up being roughly $30 million less than the Red Sox's increased offer.

Price led the American League with a 2.45 ERA last season while pitching for the Tigers and Blue Jays. He finished fifth in fewest walks/hits allowed per inning. Price finished 2nd in Cy Young voting and 9th in MVP voting.

President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made it quite clear he would be targeting a bullpen arm, a fourth outfielder, and an rotation ace during the off-season. ... And what do we have? Craig Kimbrel, Chris Young, and Price. ... I love it when a plan comes together.

Keith Law, ESPN:
The Red Sox had one overarching need this winter, and it wasn't a closer – it was a legitimate top-of-the-rotation, difference-making starter, preferably one with some history of durability. There were two such pitchers available, and the Red Sox landed the one who doesn't require them to give up their first-round draft pick.

David Price is an ace, regardless of what you may have heard about his performances in October; his regular-season body of work tells an accurate story. He's a five-win starter who has reached 200 innings in five of six full seasons as a big leaguer, who hasn't posted an ERA above 3.50 in any of those seasons, and who may very well have been the best starter in the American League in 2015. The Red Sox get him at the peak of his career, with no immediate warning signs that he's going to slide any time soon.
Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat, SoSH:
So we got arguably one of the top 3 starters in baseball and one of the top 3 closers in baseball without parting with Bogaerts, Betts, Swihart, Edro, Moncada, Benintendi, Devers, or Espinosa. I absolutely love this, crazy money notwithstanding.

7 comments:

allan said...

"Prior to Price's deal, the most the Red Sox had paid a pitcher, in annual value and overall cost, was the four-year, $82.5 million extension signed by Rick Porcello in April."

Amazing.

allan said...

Jeff Sullivan, Fangraphs:
"We know the Red Sox suddenly project real well for 2016. I shouldn't say "suddenly” — Price didn't change the whole picture. But I just looked at the early team WAR projections, based on Steamer and the depth charts, and the Red Sox lead the American League. That can only go so far. Duh. There's a whole lot of offseason left, and just last year we were touting how well the Red Sox were projected in March. ... But I think this much should be clear: the Red Sox ought to be good. They're a contender, today. Maybe the best team in the division. So the timing was right for a move like this, even if it's a bit of an overpay, which isn't entirely clear. The 2016 Red Sox could win it all. They have a lineup, an ace, and a closer."

Anonymous said...

Ohh boi!!

tim said...

Not my money and owners are loaded beyond belief - perfect! Let's hope he doesn't flounder like Craw did. Just hope there's enough cash left over to plug other holes as they arise.

hrstrat57 said...

Shocked that NYY let this pitcher slide off to the northeast.

Stunned actually.

We live in a different world sawx fans.

Jere said...

Yanks have a LOT of $ coming off the books in the next two years, they'll be doing plenty of spending then.

allan said...

And in a relative eyeblink, my headline is now wrong/outdated.