Boston Red Sox ink David Price to seven-year contract

When the Tigers fell out of the race, he was sent to Toronto, where he was an integral part of the Blue Jays’ first playoff appearance since 1993.

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.

Sources report that David Price will have an opt-out clause in his contract that would allow him to enter the free agent market again after three seasons.

Price, one of top pitchers on the market with Zack Greinke, was ready to sign with the Cardinals, but then the final push began.

It’s the biggest contract ever for a starting pitcher, edging out Clayton Kershaw’s $215 million deal from 2014.

The signing is the second major move this offseason by Boston to bolster a pitching staff that combined for a 4.39 ERA last season, third highest in the American League.

Price was the first overall pick in the 2007 draft and is 104-56 with a 3.09 ERA in eight seasons with Tampa Bay, Detroit and Toronto. (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 ballclub.

Many question the signing, especially since the Boston Red Sox were reluctant to sign free agent starter Jon Lester last season.

Even before the front-office shakeup that replaced former general manager Ben Cherington with Dombrowski, though, this offseason figured to pose a threat to that philosophy.

Following another dynamite year (18-5, 2.45 ERA, 9.19 K/9, 1.92 BB/9) and despite another rough postseason, the 30-year-old southpaw will keep his fantasy ace status.

Price is coming off one of his best years to date, where he was a runner-up for the Cy Young Award, which would’ve been his second.

Our Red Sox blog, Over the Monster, has already done a Photoshop of Price in his new uniform. So, not only is he being paid as much as any player in the history of the game, Price can attack free agency in three more years if he feels he can do better. The Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Red Sox, and San Francisco Giants are each 12-1. In my view, this is a bad contract that years down the road will be something the Red Sox wish they hadn’t done, and will more than likely trade him before it’s over.

The ace pitcher moves from one AL East team to another.