Red Sox sign David Price to 7-year, $217 million contract

Price should really help develop the young Red Sox pitchers such as Eduardo Rodriguez, Brian Johnson, Henry Owens and eventually Anderson Espinoza. However, a few people who know the lefty felt he would shy away from Boston and the intense scrutiny Red Sox players constantly are under.

His biggest deal was acquiring slugger Yoenis Cespedes, who proved to be one of the best trade-deadline deals of all time with his barrage of homers.

Price mentored 24-year-old Marcus Stroman while with the Blue Jays.

Price, a native of Nashville, Tenn., was enamored with joining the Cardinals, who have reached the postseason the last five seasons, with two pennants and a World Series title. By signing an ace instead of trading for one, the Red Sox are able to keep the rest of their farm system intact while also keeping the top young players they have at the major league level (Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Blake Swihart).

Meanwhile, there are a bunch of negatives being pointed out across Red Sox Nation.

With Tuesday night’s reports, first by the Boston Globe, that Price has agreed to a seven-year, $217-million contract with the Red Sox, the carefree days of small crowds and low expectations in Tampa are instantly replaced by the pressure that comes with playing in Boston as the richest pitcher in history.

Dave Dombrowski might have time to listen to country music while he’s in Nashville next week for the winter meetings.

Price is often reckoned as one of the most feared pitchers on the baseball field with a career record of 104-56 with 3.09 ERA.

The lowly AL East squad emptied the bank account for free agent starter David Price signing him to a 7 year deal worth about 31M per year.

The deal totals $217 million over seven years, with the $31m average annual salary the highest ever for a pitcher and tied with slugger Miguel Cabrera for the most at any position.

Price, 30, is coming off a 2015 season in which he pitched to a 2.45 ERA and 4.79 K/BB ratio in 220 1/3 innings for the Tigers and Blue Jays.

Whatever. This has been a complete ideological shift after three last-place finishes wrapped around that 2013 World Series title at Fenway Park. Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs met with Price, according to Nightengale, but never made a formal offer. He’s, for sure, a top-of-the-rotation type of guy.

Price is the second big move the Red Sox have made this offseason, after the team acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the Padres. He bought seven years of David Price and everything that comes with it. Today, Boston went out and showed how much they knew they needed an ace. The Red Sox reportedly then pushed for an answer from Price so they wouldn’t lose out on Greinke if the former chose to sign elsewhere.