David Price agrees to 7-year, $217M deal with Red Sox: reports

The Boston Red Sox and AL Cy Young runner-up David Price have agreed to terms on a seven-year free-agent deal worth $217 million US, according to multiple reports, ending the ace lefty's short tenure in Toronto.

The deal the largest ever for a pitcher is pending a physical. It is expected to be announced on Friday.

According to ESPN, the $31-million average annual value of the contract is the highest ever for a pitcher, and matches that of DetroitTigers slugger Miguel Cabrera. The total money inPrice's contractexceeds the $210million theWashington Nationals gave free-agent righty Max Scherzer last winter, as well as the$215 million extension the Los Angeles Dodgers handedace Clayton Kershaw.

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A 30-year-oldleft-handerwho was named the AL's top pitcher in 2012 and the runner-up twice in seven full major league seasons, Price has a 3.09 ERA with 1,372 strikeouts and 104 wins in his career.

Choosing the Red Sox reunites Price with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, who until this August was the Tigers' general manager. Dombrowski has had a hand in all three of Price's moves the past two years.

After spending his entire career in Tampa Bay, Price was acquired by Detroit at the 2014 trade deadline. A year later, the Tigers traded him to the Blue Jays at the July 31 non-waiver deadline and Price helped Toronto reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Now he will try to help turn around a team that has finished last in the AL East in three of the last four seasons. (The Red Sox won the World Series in 2013.) On its way to a 78-84, last-place finish in 2015, Boston brought in Dombrowski and he quickly went to work rebuilding the once-proud ballclub.

Dombrowski traded a package of prospects to San Diego for closer Craig Kimbrel last month, and now he hassomeone Kimbrel can save games for.

Price bolsters a rotation that has lacked an ace since the Red Sox balked at the asking price for Jon Lester, who signed a six-year, $155 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. Twelve different pitchers started at least one game for the Red Sox in 2015.

Price joins a rotation that, barring injuries and trades, is expected to include Wade Miley, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez and Clay Buchholz. Joe Kelly, Steven Wright and Henry Owens could bolster the bullpen, fill in as starters or serve as trade bait.

Short timein Toronto

Price 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, helping Toronto reach the AL Championship Series.

Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman posted a lengthy goodbye message to Price on his Instagram account Tuesday night along with a photo of the two pitchers. The 24-year-old Stroman thanked the veteran Price for taking him under his wing during his short time inToronto.

"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 message for Price.

The Blue Jays gave up left-handed pitching prospects Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd andJairoLabourtin the July trade that brought Price to Toronto.