The Boston Red Sox have emerged as a possible suitor for free agent pitcher David Price, Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci said Monday on MLB Network.
“David Price is going to break the bank,” Verducci said during a segment with Chris Russo on High Heat. “There’s no doubt about it. I think his landing spot is going to be Boston.”
Price, 30, is one of the top pitchers available on the free agent market. He went 18-5 with 225 strikeouts, 47 walks, 17 home runs allowed and a 2.45 ERA in 220.1 innings with the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays last season.
New Red Sox president Dombrowski has a familiarity with the all-star left-hander, having traded for Price during the 2014 season.
The Red Sox are expected to seek upgrades for their starting rotation after finishing 14th in the American League in runs allowed this past season.
“The (Red Sox) are completely all-in,” Verducci said. “They brought in Dombrowski, not to have some five-year plan but to win the World Series. They made a bit of an overpay to get Craig Kimbrel…Dombrowski wants to turn this thing around in three months so it wouldn’t surprise me to see Boston be one of the most aggressive teams.
“To get someone on the front of this rotation, it’s going to come on the free-agent market. I think it starts with Price and Jordan Zimmermann is Plan B.”
Price is expected to command a free agent deal worth over $200 million.
