Red Sox, LHP Price agree on seven-year deal

But after the insane contract that will make David Price the richest pitcher in baseball history until Zack Greinke signs within the week, the Red Sox have subsequently driven up the market for all free agent pitchers, meaning the tier two guys who the Yankees were interested in could command a price range that the Yankees aren’t comfortable going to.

Price later reportedly agreed to a seven-year, $217 million contract with the Red Sox after Dombrowski made an “increased offer”.

The contract is the largest ever given to a pitcher. It is expected to be announced Friday, the person told the AP.

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. While Price’s use of his fastball was down when compared to previous seasons, his fastball (humming it an average velocity of 94.2 MPH) and change-up were both highly effective and he generated the highest rate of swinging strikes in his career, thanks in part to drawing his highest percentage of swings on pitches outside the strike zone.

ESPN reports that Boston Red Sox’s President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski, formerly of the Tigers’ organization, has signed price. Dombrowski has had a hand in all three of Price’s moves the past two years.

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.

The decision to sign David Price could have come under severe criticism had the Red Sox had any other good young pitcher in their squad. Never getting the ace they needed, the Red Sox trotted out a lineup that scored the fourth-most runs in the American League but was undermined by a pitching staff whose 4.31 ERA was second-worst in the Junior Circuit.

I like the idea of Price, Porcello, Rodriguez, Miley, Buchholz, and/or Joe Kelly in the Sox rotation. Despite jumping out to a putrid start to the 2015 season, the rotation finished strong and completed the season worth 12.1 wins above replacement, more than the 12.0 WAR the rotation was worth during the championship season in 2013.

“For that, I am forever thankful”, Stroman wrote. Showing up early, and staying late.

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.