David Price: '[Boston] Is A Place That Expects To Win, And That's What I Want To Be A Part Of'
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Red Sox officially welcomed their $217 million pitcher to Boston on Friday, as David Price was formally introduced as the newest member of the team.
"Thank you, obviously, Mr. [Tom] Werner, Mr. [John] Henry, Dave [Dombrowski], you guys made it easy for me," Price said Friday at Fenway Park. "This is a place that has wining in their history. I definitely think they have winning in the future. They want to win, they know how to win. We're extremely young, and that's what I want to be a part of.
"To be around those guys to help them be a part of something like this, the passion from the fans, the passion from the community,"
Price continued. "This is a place that has winning in their blood, not just with the Red Sox. Obviously what the Patriots are capable of doing, the Bruins, the Celtics, this is a place that wins. And this is a place that expects to win. And that's what I want to be a part of."
Price wore jersey No. 14 throughout his career, but with that number being retired by the Red Sox for Jim Rice, Price will make the switch to No. 24.
Price, 30, was the preeminent name on the free-agent pitching market, and he opted to take the most lucrative offer. The Red Sox inked Price to a seven-year deal worth $217 million, which is the highest ever for a pitcher and pays Price an average annual value of $31 million.
The Red Sox officially announced the deal on Friday, designating Garin Cecchini for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
If so inclined, Price can opt out of the deal after three years.
With the signing, the major criticism has been Price's poor history of pitching in the postseason. It's an issue that Price acknowledged but doesn't expect to continue.
"I think I was just saving all my postseason wins for the Red Sox. I think you guys will enjoy those," Price joked. "I know good things are going to happen to me in October, and that just hasn't been the case thus far. I know those times are going to change. … That time is coming for me, and hopefully in 2016."
Price has a history of some bad blood with Red Sox star David Ortiz, with the two exchanging words via the media in recent years, but Price said on Thursday that it's water under the bridge.
"Big Papi and myself, we're both competitors. What he's done for this organization and the game of baseball, it's extremely special. I'm ready to be one of his really good friends," Price said. "The guy's a competitor, and that's what I am too. … I'm definitely open to cheering for Big Papi every at-bat, and I think we're going to have a good relationship."
In eight MLB seasons, Price has compiled a 104-56 record, 3.09 ERA and 1,372 strikeouts in 1,441.2 innings. Last year, he led the AL with a 2.45 ERA for Detroit and Toronto, finishing second in AL Cy Young Award voting. Among active pitchers with at least 1,000 innings pitched, Price ranks fourth in ERA (3.09) behind Clayton Kershaw (2.43), Adam Wainwright (2.98) and Madison Bumgarner (3.04).
The Red Sox' 2016 season opens on April 4 in Cleveland.
