Red Sox announce 7-year, $217M deal for David Price

The Red Sox introduced David Price at Fenway Park on Friday.

Price is good enough to be ranked among most of these guys, but if he is truly going to make a dent as one of the greatest pitchers in Red Sox history, he has an incredibly tough road ahead of him.

Stick a fork in this feud, because David Ortiz and David Price are now Boston Red Sox teammates. They’ve done it recently as well, and I really think we’re going to do it in the future. “That just hasn’t been the case thus far”, said Price, who is 0-7 with a 5.27 career ERA in eight career postseason starts.

I can throw the ball as well in October as I do in the regular season.

Despite winning it all in 2013 – their third World Series championship in 10 years – the Red Sox have finished last in the AL East in three of the past four seasons.

Though financial details were not disclosed, The Boston Globe had reported on Tuesday that the deal was worth a record $217 million, narrowly topping Clayton Kershaw’s $215 million extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014. But it also goes against the team’s stated desire not to commit to long-term deals for pitchers who have already turned 30. “There are exceptions to any rule, and certainly this is one of the most exceptional pitchers”, owner John Henry said. “He’s putting up historical numbers, or at least bordering on that, at this stage of his career”.

The 30-year-old left-hander arrives in Boston after splitting last season with the Tigers and Blue Jays. With obvious pitching talent, Price could easily make himself an important part of Boston Red Sox history.

Price was asked about his past trouble with Boston’s David Ortiz. Some might balk at the huge commitment they’re making, but it is a necessary evil because Price should put the team into immediate playoff contention.

Ramirez said on Friday he does not want to be traded and expressed confidence in his ability to play first base. “What he’s done for this organization and the game of baseball is really special”, said Price, who was given the No. 24 worn by Dwight Evans and Manny Ramirez.

“I feel good about the roster as it is”.

It was the start of their off-season planning, the veteran baseball executive having come aboard earlier in the month after getting released from his contract by the Detroit Tigers after the trade deadline.

“If you’re going to go out and sign a legitimate No. 1 starter, you’re going to have to be in a position to be to give the length of contract that we did”, Dombrowski said.

Acquiring a core young pitcher without sacrificing a core young prospect won’t be easy, and presumably takes the Red Sox out of the market for a big name like Oakland’s Sonny Gray, Chicago’s Chris Sale, or Miami’s Jose Fernandez. It hasn’t always happened in the post-season. That agreement has not been announced, but a person with knowledge of the negotiations described it to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because Price must still pass his physical.

Price’s contract includes an opt-out clause that he can trigger after three years, allowing him to jump back into free agency at age 33.

Ortiz went on to say that the support of his family and those around him helped him realize it is time to leave the game. We’re not going to trade away our core young players, but we might be able to get a core young pitcher.