Boston Globe: Red Sox Land David Price For 7 Years, $217 Million

The Boston Globe was first to report the deal. But on Wednesday afternoon, David Price ended his free agency with a monster signing.

The 7 year $217 million dollar contract given to David Price could go down as one of the worst contracts in baseball history. But both AL East-tested lefties fit the description of an “alpha pitcher”, the likes of which the Red Sox have sorely missed, and are regarded by younger teammates as leaders of a pitching staff.

It’s hardly a secret now that nine-figure contracts for pitchers in their 30s are like poison ivy to Sox principal owner John Henry. Reality, of course, gave us this truth: The Red Sox didn’t hire Dombrowski to be like Andrew Friedman and bring principles like surplus value and efficiency to the Red Sox.

Long term however, the contracts of aging players like Price, Hanley, and Sandoval could come back to haunt the Sox when they prove to not be worth the money and become harder and harder to move. During his seven year careers at Tampa Bay, Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays, Price struck out 1372 batters making it to the All Stars time five times.

Second, the total amount for Price is $2 million more over seven years than the previous high for a pitcher, Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, covering 2014-20.

For Dave Dombrowski, this is officially his team.

The culprit, in this instance, is not Dombrowski himself but what spurred his hiring: losing. Price has an opt-out after three seasons. The 24-year-old Stroman thanked the veteran Price for taking him under his wing during his short time with Toronto. After hours of angst, late into the night, Anthopoulos put together the right package of prospects to satisfy Dombrowski and the deal was done. Use the money. Use the farm system.

Whatever. This has been a complete ideological shift after three last-place finishes wrapped around that 2013 World Series title at Fenway Park.

As much as Dombrowski wanted Price and his career 3.09 ERA over 1,441 2/3 innings, he’s done this enough to understand that money doesn’t always talk. Nightengale also added that the St. Louis Cardinals were the runner-up in the Price sweepstakes, but Boston outbid the Cardinals by “at least” $30 million.

Every other transaction Anthopoulos ever made was the opposite of a deal like the one Price got from the Red Sox. JD, Joey Bats, Edwing and Tulo should be able to tee off of the left handed throwing Price once that velocity drops and the Red Sox won’t know what hit them. It was important for them to get an ace of the staff. Price will anchor the rotation that includes Rick Porcello, Clay Buchholtz, Wade Miley, Joe Kelly, and Eduardo Rodgriuez.