Jays say goodbye as Price is right in Boston
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox and ace pitcher David Price have agreed to a deal worth $217 million US over seven years, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal had not yet been signed and is pending a physical.
Price has a 3.09 ERA in eight major league seasons with 1,372 strikeouts and 104 wins.
Price was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays near the trade deadline last season in a deal with the Detroit Tigers. Toronto gave up left-handed pitching prospects Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt in the trade.
Price was excellent down the stretch, helping Toronto end its 22-year playoff drought.
He went 18-5 with a 2.45 earned-run average last season for the Blue Jays and Tigers, including a 9-1 regular-season record with Toronto. He went 1-2 through four post-season appearances (three starts) as a Blue Jay.
Price, the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner, finished second in the voting for this year’s AL Cy Young behind Houston’s Dallas Keuchel.
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman posted a lengthy goodbye message to Price on his Instagram account along with a photo of the two pitchers Tuesday. The 24-year-old Stroman thanked the veteran Price for taking him under his wing during his short time with Toronto.
“For that, I am forever thankful,” Stroman wrote. “Watching and critiquing my bullpens. Treating everyone with class and respect. Putting your teammates first. Showing up early, and staying late. Forming a bond with every single guy on the team. “I could go on forever.” Toronto outfielder Kevin Pillar also shared a congratulations message for Price, joking he is now a “Frenemy” on his Twitter account.
Price would join a Red Sox rotation that is likely to include Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Eduardo Rodriguez.
Boston finished last in the AL East this year with a 78-84 record, 15 games behind the division-champion Blue Jays.