Red Sox agree to 7-year, $217M deal with Price

Pete is reporting that David Price has agreed with Boston on a seven-year, 7-million contract, the largest ever given to a pitcher. Clayton Kershaw was the prior leader after he signed a $215 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014.

Price in action with the Blue Jays earlier in 2015.

With Price being one of the two top pitching free agents this offseason along with Zack Greinke, the market is set to become more competitive for Greinke with Price off the market. The Chicago Cubs, led by manager Joe Maddon, were considered the frontrunners since Price played for Joe Maddon while both were with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The most recent move from Dombrowski comes on the heels of the Red Sox acquiring closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres in November.

Price also has thrown 1,299 1/3 innings over the last six seasons, the fourth-most in baseball.

So what does the Red Sox rotation look like now?

FOX Sports reported Cueto, 29, was offered the contract on the same day starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann landed a five-year, $110 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. Price is expected to be introduced at a press conference on Friday in Boston. During the ALCS this season, he was 1-1 for the Jays. He was a huge get for the Red Sox to keep their ace in place as they build around the staff around him.

He then declared to everyone that he wanted a true ace at the top of his rotation and some power arms in the bullpen.

Price is the second major starting pitching acquisition of the season.

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.

Stroman was easily one of the most vocal Blue Jay players championing a long-term signing of Price. But he is 2-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 14 postseason games.

The Red Sox were also in negotiations with Greinke, according to a high-ranking team official who asked not to be identified due the sensitive nature of negotiations.

With Price atop the rotation, the Red Sox can slot Clay Buchholz, Eduardo Rodriguez, Porcello, and Wade Miley behind him. There are still moves left to be made to help push the Boston Red Sox over the top, but every fan will join Price in sleeping easy tonight with a big smile on their face.