Ace Pitcher David Price Joins Dave Dombrowski in Beantown

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox and ace pitcher David Price have agreed to a deal worth $217 million over seven years, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. It beats the seven-year, $210 million (with deferred money) signed last winter by Max Scherzer and the seven-year, $215 million extension signed by Clayton Kershaw prior to the 2014 season.

Cashman might be banking on the fact that Price showed signs of aging, especially in the postseason when he went 1-2 with a 6.20 ERA in the two rounds the Blue Jays were in this past October.

Dombrowski is an aggressive, decisive executive who first acquired Price from the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2014 deadline for the Detroit Tigers. (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 ball club (see full recap).

The Boston Red Sox more than made amends after losing out on left-hander Jon Lester to the Chicago Cubs last December.

Also of note: As Sports On Earth tweeted, Red Sox president of baseball ops (and former Tigers GM) Dave Dombrowki has in a little more than a year traded for Price, traded away Price and signed Price to a mammoth free-agent contract.

Kimbrel anchors the bullpen, with Koji Uehara moving to a setup role and Junichi Tazawa as the kind of game-shortening force that the best teams all have now.

I like the idea of Price, Porcello, Rodriguez, Miley, Buchholz, and/or Joe Kelly in the Sox rotation.

If Price helps him win another World Series, the whole thing will look even better.

Furthermore, because they did not sign Price, the Cubs can now use their money to other areas of need.

Price, 18-5 with a 2.45 ERA last season, who finished second to Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros in the AL Cy Young voting, certainly has the credentials to be the highest-paid pitcher. He has seven saves in 365 appearances over nine seasons. Treating everyone with class and respect. Showing up early, and staying late. He is a veteran and smart hitter who can become an effective mentor to the younger guys in the team. (Let it be known that I believe letting Lester go was the biggest mistake the Henry ownership group has made in their tenure).

Toronto outfielder Kevin Pillar also shared a message for Price. He would then be traded to the Blue Jays in mid-2015, and now could spend the rest of his career in Boston.