After multiple weeks of little-to-no activity for free agent-starting pitchers, the market has quickly picked up.
Amid multiple reports of headliners Zack Greinke and David price drawing interest from multiple teams, J.A. Haap signed with the Toronto blue jays.
Jordan Zimmerman was the next domino to fall, signing a five-year contract with the Detroit Tigers worth an estimated $110 million.
Between the two signings, Johnny Cueto reportedly rejected a six-year, $120 million contract from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
One of the elite starters is no longer available as price agreed to a seven-year, $217 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe:
According to a source briefed on the negotiations, they agreed on Tuesday on a seven-year, $217 million contract with lefthander David Price.
Price can opt out of the deal after three years, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Confirmed: Price deal with #RedSox is seven years, $217M. No deferred money. Three-year opt-out.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 1, 2015
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports, Price will earn $30 million in each of the first three years:
David Price will earn $90 million the 1st three years of his contract_$30 million a year_when he then has an opt-out in his contract.#RedSox
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 1, 2015
Price’s contract surpasses Clayton Kershaw’s $215 million deal by $2 million for the richest ever given to a starting pitcher. One notable difference is Kershaw signed at 25 years old, while Price is 30.
Price was 18-5 with a 2.45 ERA, 2.78 FIP and 1.08 WHIP last season. He made 21 starts with the Tigers and 11 starts with the Blue Jays.
He appeared in four postseason games (three starts), finishing 1-2 with a 6.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts to three walks in 23.1 innings.
With Price no longer on the market, Cueto and Greinke remain as the top free-agent starting pitchers available.
