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2016 MLB Season: 5 risky free agent signings

By Patrick Morgan

Mar 31, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; General view of Opening Day logo on the field before an opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; General view of Opening Day logo on the field before an opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning in game six of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning in game six of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

3. David Price to the Red Sox

Arguably the biggest fish in free agency this offseason, Price came to terms with the Boston Red Sox on a monster deal that pays him $217 million over the course of seven seasons, which amounts to just over $30 million a season. That’s astronomical by any account, and a huge sign of the leap of faith the Red Sox organization is taking by naming Price their main man.

There haven’t been many pitchers in baseball better than Price over the past four years, so on the surface the move seems like a no-brainer for an organization trying to get back to relevance in the AL East. For the record, I think Price will be an immense success in Beantown, as he has been during stops in Tampa, Detroit, and Toronto. His addition alone to the rotation should make the Red Sox prohibitive favorites to win their division and make some noise in the playoffs.

So why is he on this list? Simply put, the money. Someone was going to overpay for his arm anyway, so it might as well be the Red Sox, but the deal really hampers the team’s ability to make other adjustments on the roster moving forward for as long as Price is on the payroll. And if things go south and he’s not as dominant as advertised, Boston will have a heck of a time trying to unload him given the mammoth deal they inked him to. It’s a calculated risk, to be sure, and one most Sox fans probably think is worth the potential catastrophe, but it’s a major risk nonetheless.

Next: 2. Chris Davis staying with the Orioles

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