Boston Red Sox sign David Price

The Red Sox shelled out a seven year $217 million dollars on one of the biggest names in the market, David Price (The deal is for seven years, but Price has an opt-out clause after three).

The Boston Red Sox are making a statement Friday that they expect to contend next season and beyond.

The addition of Price’s $31 million annual average value to the payroll brings it to approximately $180 million, which does not include arbitration-eligible players plus various and sundry salary add-ons. Or, less metaphorically, it’s better than giving Rick Porcello $100 million because he might be worth $140 million in a year or so, or better than paying Justin Masterson $10 million because he might turn out not to be a smoking husk of a pitcher.

Price is arguably the most accomplished pitcher to hit the free-agent market in the last seven years, since CC Sabathia signed with the Yankees following the 2008 season. He also has plenty of experience pitching in the AL East, with a 13-7 career record against the New York Yankees – his new chief rival.

Price, 30, began the 2015 season with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays mid-season. The team has been linked to starting pitchers Tyson Ross of the San Diego Padres and Shelby Miller of the Atlanta Braves.

Can Price co-exist for a year with David Ortiz, with whom he has feuded?

I am not speculating that Price will never be the dominant pitcher during the playoffs that he has been during the regular season. Today, Boston went out and showed how much they knew they needed an ace. Over his eight-year career, spent with Tampa Bay, Detroit and Toronto, Price is 104-56 with a 3.09 ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratio just under four. Despite Rodriguez’s helping the Yankees win the 2009 World Series, there is likely no bigger regret from the Yankees than their decision to resign Rodriguez to (another) ten year contract starting in 2008, especially when Rodriguez’s (first) steroids scandal emerged before the 2009 season. He won the 2012 American League Cy Young Award and was runner-up two other times (2010, 2015) and is a five-time A.L. All-Star. They had Jon Lester but he was traded Oakland Athletics past year to land in outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

One thing that immediately stood out to me about this signing is that Dave Dombrowski and the Red Sox are flat out insane. If you’ve forgotten, Red Sox owner John Henry is still there. David Price will probably be out of town before they can get rid of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval (if no one helps them out like last time).