Red Sox: 5 sleepers to watch for on the 2017 roster
Price is probably least deserving of a spot on this list, based on his overall career numbers, but makes it anyway just because of how down on him Red Sox fans were following his performance last year.
He’ll be the first to admit that 2016 was not up to his standards, but it also wasn’t that far off. He gave up a run and a half more per nine innings last season than the year before, but he was still able to provide value to a team that desperately needed a strong pitcher at the top of their rotation. Looking at his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) or xFIP (Expected Fielding Independent Pitching), his season doesn’t look like the disaster that fans make it out to be.
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He posted 3.60 and 3.52 measurements in those stats respectively (a good FIP is around 3.80, while an awful one 4.70). Based on Price’s numbers, he was slightly above average adjusting for defensive play and luck.
That he wasn’t as bad as many thought in 2016 makes him a prime sleeper candidate for the Red Sox. Rick Porcello deserves attention after his Cy Young Award and there will be a lot of hype surrounding Chris Sale after the cost it took to acquire him, leaving many to overlook how good David Price could be. Last year was the first time since 2013 that he wasn’t worth 6+ WAR, don’t be surprised if he returns to form in in 2017.