Betances: Price ‘adds spice’ to Yank-Sox rivalry
THE Yankees-Red Sox rivalry has been dormant for the past two seasons, thanks mostly to Boston’s back-to-backlast-place-finishes.
In Dellin Betances’ eyes, that may have changed the moment David Price agreed to join the rival Red Sox for seven years and $217 million.
“If they wanted to make a statement, they definitely did,” Betances told the Daily News. “Adding an ace like Price is huge; he’s a guy that works extremely hard and is worth every penny of that deal.
“It definitely adds more spice to one of the biggest rivalries in sports. I can’ t wait for the 2016 season .”
Andrew Miller wasn’t surprised to hear about Price’ s deal.
“It was assumed the Sox would get a big starter and they did,” Miller told The News when asked how the Price signing impacts the AL East. “Good for Price and good for the league and division, but it certainly doesn’ t make our life any easier .”
One major-league executive questioned the size of Price’s contract, noting that lengthy nine-figure deals for pitchers in their thirties haven’t worked out well historically.
“I don’t ever begrudge any team for doing anything, but I think it’s crazy,” the executive said. “I don’t think he’s worth $217 million; they’ll get three good years out of him. But they were in last place for two years and they were desperate .”
Price’s deal won’t become official until he passes a physical in the next day or two, though a press conference is tentatively set for Friday at Fenway Park. Boston officially introduced former Yankee Chris Young on a conference call Wednesday, though a team media relations official cautioned reporters only to ask questions about Young and not Price, who has not officially signed hisdeal.
Young, who inked a two-year, $13 million pact to defect from one side of the rivalry to the other, was excited by the prospect of joining a team that has already added All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel and has agreed totermswithPrice.
“It’s a great feeling to be on a team that’s trying to make those moves to make a big difference and go all the way,” Young said. “The moves (for Kimbrel and Price) aren’t moves to just try to contend; those are moves that are made with the big picture in mind and to try to win a World Series. That sends a message to your team, its ends a message to the fans of what the goal is. That’s extremely inspiring and motivating. It makes you show up to spring training with a different mind set, for sure .”
Young was a solid performer for the Yankees last season, hitting .252/.320/.453 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI in 356 plate appearances. He crushed lefties to the tune of .327/.397/.575, but the Yankees opted to trade for 26-year-old Aaron Hicks to fill that role next season, allowing Young to move elsewhere.
“I’ve been traded before, gone from team to team quite a bit the last three or four years ,” Young said .“So I don’ t hold anything against that .”