Report: Red Sox agree to seven-year, $217 million deal with David Price
The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a seven-year, $217 million deal with starting pitcher David Price, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globereports.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Price will be paid $90 million over the first three years of his deal, and will have an opt-out clause after the third season.
The deal is the seventh-highest in baseball history and the highest for any pitcher, edging Clayton Kershaw’s $215 million contract with the Dodgers.
Price, 30, went 9–1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts with Toronto last year after the Tigers traded him to the Jays in July. He has been traded each of the past two seasons after pitching in Tampa Bay for the first seven years of his career.
• The Reiter 50: Greinke, Heyward lead list of top free agents
The lefthander posted a career-best 2.45 ERA in a combined 32 starts last season for Detroit and Toronto and reached 18 wins for the third time in his eight MLB seasons. He was also named to his fifth All-Star team.
Boston adds the 2012 Cy Young Award winner to a rotation that includes Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello and Wade Miley.
The news comes a day after the Tigers announced the signing of righthander Jordan Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million deal.
With Price off the market, Zack Greinke is now the top available free agent, according to SI’s Ben Reiter.
- Kenny Ducey
