I'm sure yesterday's game was an uncomfortable experience for David Price doubters in Red Sox Nation. Price pitched a gem, going seven innings, with five strikeouts, scattering just five hits and allowing zero (!) walks.
That dominating performance led to the first win of the young season for the Red Sox, even with the minimum possible run support provided by an RBI single from Rafael Devers.
I know some Red Sox fans hoped David Price would opt out at the end of this season, given his less than stellar performances during the first two years of his deal. But the odds were never in their favor, given his age and the truly mind-boggling amount of money he'd be leaving on the table.
Prior to this offseason, you might have wagered that Price could chase an even higher payday with an out-of-this-world 2018 (setting aside that Charlie Morton, Adam Wainwright, and Dallas Keuchel will also be free agents, plus Clayton Kershaw could also opt out after this year, and no one wants to compete with him on the open market).
But you can bet that Price was watching the trajectory of last offseason with the rest of us: the days of behemoth contracts for aging players seem to be behind us - at least for now. Even if Kershaw opts to stick with the Dodgers, teams have been saving up for the likes of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, and might not have a hundred million dollars to spare for a 33-year-old pitcher.
That dominating performance led to the first win of the young season for the Red Sox, even with the minimum possible run support provided by an RBI single from Rafael Devers.
I know some Red Sox fans hoped David Price would opt out at the end of this season, given his less than stellar performances during the first two years of his deal. But the odds were never in their favor, given his age and the truly mind-boggling amount of money he'd be leaving on the table.
Prior to this offseason, you might have wagered that Price could chase an even higher payday with an out-of-this-world 2018 (setting aside that Charlie Morton, Adam Wainwright, and Dallas Keuchel will also be free agents, plus Clayton Kershaw could also opt out after this year, and no one wants to compete with him on the open market).
But you can bet that Price was watching the trajectory of last offseason with the rest of us: the days of behemoth contracts for aging players seem to be behind us - at least for now. Even if Kershaw opts to stick with the Dodgers, teams have been saving up for the likes of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, and might not have a hundred million dollars to spare for a 33-year-old pitcher.
Price himself seemed to confirm he was planning to stay, telling Jen McCaffrey of MassLive "I came here to win. I knew how tough it was to play here and pitch here. If you can go out there and win, I know all the emotions and everything's going to be better in that positive light. I look forward to doing that."
So whether you're a David Price fangirl like me, or a serial doubter, buckle up. The David Price era in Boston is just beginning - and I have a good feeling about the 2018 chapter, given how beautifully it started.
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