Red Sox lefty David Price confirms he is opting in to remain in Boston

Davi Price had the opportunity to opt out of his contract to test free agency again but has decided to remain with the Boston Red Sox.

It doesn’t seem as if it were all that long ago that a mob of critical fans wanted to run David Price out of town with pitchforks in hand. Now we couldn’t be more relieved to have him as a key cog in the Boston Red Sox rotation.

As the players prepared for the rolling rally to celebrate their World Series championship, Price told reporters that he has no intention of exercising the opt-out clause in his contract.

Price’s contract includes a provision that would allow him to opt out of the final four years, $127 million of his deal to test the free agent market again. The criticism he endured during his first three years in Boston, his clashes with the media, and questions about his ability to handle the pressures of this market were all factors for why he would consider bolting as soon as he was given the chance.

Those questions were put to rest by a stellar postseason. Price squashed the narrative that he couldn’t perform in October, earning his first three career postseason wins as a starter, including two wins in the World Series. He was arguably Boston’s best starting pitcher during their postseason run, a statement we never could have fathomed entering the year.

Price is coming off a solid season in which he went 16-7 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 9.05 K/9. Those numbers may not seem worthy of $30 million but the Red Sox were more than happy to pay that hefty salary given what he meant to this team.

With Chris Sale battling shoulder inflammation during the second half, Price stepped up to become the ace he was expected to be when he signed his mammoth contract. He was 6-1 with a 2.25 ERA over his final 11 regular season starts. Regardless of the overall number, Price earned his contract this season and the right to call himself co-ace of this rotation.

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Price won a pitcher’s duel with Justin Verlander to eliminate the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the ALCS. He beat Clayton Kershaw to earn the decisive victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers to seal a World Series championship. That made Price the first pitcher to ever beat former Cy Young winners in the series-clinching finale of an LCS and the World Series in the same season.

No matter what happens over the next four seasons, Price has been worth every cent of his $217 million deal based on this postseason performance.

Don’t expect that to mean Price is content to sit back and keep cashing his checks. Winning a World Series ring has only made him hungry for more success. Price isn’t opting in because he’s concerned he won’t find another big payday elsewhere. He’s staying here because he wants to win and he knows the Red Sox give him the best opportunity to contend.

Price could have taken the easy way out by escaping the spotlight. Instead, he stepped up when that light was at its brightest in the World Series. Price isn’t going anywhere and will be back in the Red Sox rotation next season to defend the team’s status as reigning champions.