Dave Dombrowski was hired to run baseball operations by the Red Sox to signal a sea change.
Boston had just had a rather unique four years: Last place, championship, last place and last place. The title obviously was terrific, but the Red Sox ownership wanted to shift the results and the conversation away from being at the bottom of the AL East.
So Dombrowski was empowered essentially to do what was necessary to reverse the recent fortunes. That meant he would be allowed to move prospects or spend dollars. That was a U-turn from the marching orders under which Ben Cherington was operating recently. He was protecting the best of the Red Sox farm system and heeding ownership’s mandate not to make long-term investments, particularly on pitchers in their 30s.
Cherington resigned as general manager the night Dombrowski’s hire became official.
And the new Red Sox path was initiated.
Two weeks ago, the Red Sox sent four prospects, including two of their best, to San Diego to obtain closer Craig Kimbrel. That signaled Boston was all-in, which meant the Red Sox would be doing whatever was necessary to fill their top need – an ace.
We found out what that was Tuesday, when the Red Sox and David Price reached agreement on a seven-year, $217 million contract. That is the most money ever guaranteed a pitcher — $2 million more than the Dodgers gave Clayton Kershaw. The $31 million annual average also is the largest ever for a pitcher and tied Miguel Cabrera for the most ever for any player – though the bidding war between the Dodgers and Giants for Zack Greinke, the best starter left in free agency, could top that.
In the spring of 2014, the Red Sox low-balled their homegrown Jon Lester then allowed themselves to be outbid by both the Giants and the ultimate winner Cubs for the lefty in free agency last offseason. It fit the Red Sox’s worldview at the time. They thought they could win by accumulating good starters with potential upside — such as Rick Porcello and Joe Kelly and Wade Miley — but no proven ace.
That proved a failed strategy and led to Red Sox ownership hiring Dombrowski, not long after he was let go as the Tigers’ general manager. In Detroit, Dombrowski had operated with a large checkbook and applied much of his energies to his rotation, including trading for Price at the July 31 deadline in 2014.
He is 59. He was not hired by the Red Sox to do a rebuild. Dombrowski was hired to aggressively fix a problem and – at least in the short term – Kimbrel and Price should make Boston imposing in 2016. Price, in many ways, is to the Red Sox now what CC Sabathia was to the Yankees following the 2008 campaign – a former Cy Young-winning lefty ace who so perfectly fit the need for a positive, durable No. 1 starter.
In the long run, giving up the prospects and paying Price, who is 30, for such a long period may prove problematic – as Sabathia has become with the Yankees. Price has the leverage – just like Sabathia got in his first Yankees contract, Price has an opt out after three years.
Boston gets Price pretty much at the peak of his skills. He was the runner-up for this year’s AL Cy Young. Like Sabathia getting traded to Milwuakee in his walk year and leading to the Brewers to their first playoff berth in 26 years, Price was dealt to Toronto and led the Blue Jays to their first playoff berth in 23 years. Overall, he was 18-5 with an AL-best 2.45 ERA.
The Cardinals, Cubs and Dodgers also were interested in Price. There were questions if he would approve going to the Red Sox when there was history of bad blood between him and Boston, particularly with David Ortiz, dating to Price’s Rays days, and there was the belief Price would find greater comfort in the NL and not in a place as baseball-intense as Boston.
But the Red Sox came hard with the money. Dombrowski was not hired to go gingerly after what was needed. He was given a financial sledgehammer.
He used it.