David Price agrees to $217-million, 7-year deal with Boston Red Sox: report

The Boston Red Sox and ace pitcher David Price have agreed to a deal worth $217-million (U.S.) over seven years, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal has not yet been signed and is pending a physical.

Price has a 3.09 ERA in eight major league seasons with 1,372 strikeouts and 104 wins.

Price was acquired by the Blue Jays near the trade deadline last season in a deal with the Detroit Tigers. Toronto gave up left-handed pitching prospects Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt in the trade.

Price was excellent down the stretch, helping Toronto end its 22-year playoff drought.

He went 18-5 with a 2.45 earned-run average last season for the Blue Jays and Tigers, including a 9-1 regular-season record with Toronto. He went 1-2 through four post-season appearances (three starts) as a Blue Jay.

Price, the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner, finished second in the voting for this year's AL Cy Young behind Houston's Dallas Keuchel.

Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman posted a lengthy goodbye message to Price on his Instagram account along with a photo of the two pitchers Tuesday night. The 24-year-old Stroman thanked the veteran Price for taking him under his wing during his short time with Toronto.

"For that, I am forever thankful," Stroman wrote. "Watching and critiquing my bullpens. Treating everyone with class and respect. Putting your teammates first. Showing up early, and staying late. Forming a bond with every single guy on the team.

"I could go on forever."

Toronto outfielder Kevin Pillar also shared a message for Price.

"Congrats DP DAVIDPrice14 you are now my #Frenemy," Pillar wrote on his Twitter account.

Price would join a Red Sox rotation that is likely to include Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Eduardo Rodriguez.

Boston finished last in the AL East last season with a 78-84 record, 15 games behind the division-champion Blue Jays.

With files from The Canadian Press