Red Sox signed Porcello to four year deal. 4/82.5M

Yazdog8 · Apr 6, 2015

Totally under the radar. This is awesome! Delayed signing for luxury tax purposes?

StuckOnYouk · Apr 6, 2015

Excellent move as long as the dollars aren't preposterous
What a day

MuzzyField · Apr 6, 2015

No need to negotiate during the season. The deal was already done.

foulkehampshire · Apr 6, 2015

This may be the best 5 hours I'll have all year.

Hank Scorpio · Apr 6, 2015

"What is this, I can't even..."

So we basically turned 2 months of Lester into 4 years of Porcello?

BornToRun · Apr 6, 2015

Awesome news! What a pleasant surprise to top off an already amazing opening day.

benhogan · Apr 6, 2015

S announced yet? any guesses?

EDIT: never mind

AlNipper49 · Apr 6, 2015

Holy smokes. I bet this has been done for awhile

Yazdog8 · Apr 6, 2015

Hank Scorpio said:
"What is this, I can't even..."

So we basically turned 2 months of Lester into 4 years of Porcello?

Deal starts next year so more like 5.

jacklamabe65 · Apr 6, 2015

Wow! I mean...just wow!

Minneapolis Millers · Apr 6, 2015

Is it $82.5? That would be ridiculously high. Short years, but still. He's not a top 15-20 MLB pitcher.

Hank Scorpio · Apr 6, 2015

Yikes, they must have a ton of confidence in the guy. Nearly $21M AAV for someone without a very long track record of success.

Yazdog8 · Apr 6, 2015

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/rick-porcello-boston-red-sox-contract-extension/

In a short time, I have become very comfortable with the organization and my teammates. At our winter fan event in January, I got to spend time with the veteran guys on the team like Mike Napoli, David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. The main topic of conversation was winning a World Series in 2015. What struck me was that it wasn’t discussed like it was a goal, but rather an expectation. I continued to see this overwhelming commitment from my teammates, my manager, my coaches, the front office and ownership.

I knew immediately I wanted to work in a place with that mentality.

MuzzyField · Apr 6, 2015

Minneapolis Millers said:
Is it $82.5? That would be ridiculously high.

But shorter on years...

foulkehampshire · Apr 6, 2015

Minneapolis Millers said:
Is it $82.5? That would be ridiculously high.

Not really, considering what the going price of pitching is these days.

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat · Apr 6, 2015

MuzzyField said:
No need to negotiate during the season. The deal was already done.

Yeah, that was clever

LahoudOrBillyC · Apr 6, 2015

I would rather have Porcello's future than Lester's. (FWIW, I said this in December as well.) Very very good news.

ivanvamp · Apr 6, 2015

That's #1 starter money for a guy who many are not sure can be a #1 starter. But I love that they've locked him up for his prime years.

Corsi · Apr 6, 2015

The second-to-last day of spring training, I had to move out of my Ft. Myers condo by 8 AM. We had a night game that evening, and I didn’t really have any other place to go, so I figured I’d head to the ballpark and just hang out there knowing I had several hours to spare.

I arrived at the facility at 8:30 AM saw Brian Butterfield, one of my coaches, already there watching video. It was obvious that he’d been at it for at least of a few hours — I think he was on his third cup of coffee. But he was up, at work and looking for ways to make our team better.

It might seem like a small thing but it’s those details make a huge difference when you’re on a team — and with an organization — striving to win a World Series. From the moment spring training began, those small things made me feel like I was in the place I wanted to be.

On that note, I’m elated to announce that I’ve signed a four-year contract extension with the Boston Red Sox.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/rick-porcello-boston-red-sox-contract-extension/

nvalvo · Apr 6, 2015

I thought this might be coming, a la Adrian Gonzalez. GREAT DEAL.

Minneapolis Millers said:
Is it $82.5? That would be ridiculously high.

For four post-FA years (aged ~~28-31~~ 27-30)? In this FA market? No, I think that's pretty reasonable.

mikeford · Apr 6, 2015

HAHAHAHA wow that is such a colossal overpay

#1 starter money for a #3.

Bad.

moondog80 · Apr 6, 2015

ivanvamp said:
That's #1 starter money for a guy who many are not sure can be a #1 starter. But I love that they've locked him up for his prime years.

It's not #1 starter money. Hasn't been for a few years now.

Clears Cleaver · Apr 6, 2015

If Rick Porcello is getting $20M a year, there is absolutely no reason for any young athlete not to focus all their time and energy trying to become a major league pitcher. That's incredible.

foulkehampshire · Apr 6, 2015

ivanvamp said:
That's #1 starter money for a guy who many are not sure can be a #1 starter. But I love that they've locked him up for his prime years.

Better look at what #1 starters are getting these days. It's closer to 30.

He's getting market rate for a #2 pitcher, which they think he will be. As an added bonus, he's young and is a pretty good bet to be actually underpaid by year 3, 4.

Corsi · Apr 6, 2015

mikeford said:
HAHAHAHA wow that is such a colossal overpay

#1 starter money for a #3.

Bad.

Last time I checked, #1 starters are signing 6-year, $155M contracts that cover their age 31-36 seasons.

DJnVa · Apr 6, 2015

mikeford said:
HAHAHAHA wow that is such a colossal overpay

#1 starter money for a #3.

Bad.

Did you miss what Scherzer signed for? Lester?

Porcello is closer to Shields and got a similar deal.

bellowthecat · Apr 6, 2015

I don't think the money is off at all. Pay good money for peak seasons instead of post-peak ones. The league has been trending this way for a while. Glad they were able to do this. People who think this is #1 starter money should look at Mr. Clayton Kershaw. This is the price you pay for mid-rotation workhorses. Shields just got a similar contract and while he will probably be better this year, I'll take Porcello over the life of those contracts.

Red(s)HawksFan · Apr 6, 2015

This is Homer Bailey money. Perfectly reasonable. I'm high on Porcello...this could turn into a steal of a deal for a good pitcher's age 27-31 seasons.

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat · Apr 6, 2015

foulkehampshire said:
Better look at what #1 starters are getting these days. It's closer to 30.

He's getting market rate for a #2 pitcher, which they think he will be. As an added bonus, he's young and is a pretty good bet to be actually underpaid by year 3, 4.

And it's only 4 years. Perfect for the Sox, and he gets to be a FA when he's just a little older than Lester.

jimbobim · Apr 6, 2015

mikeford said:
HAHAHAHA wow that is such a colossal overpay

#1 starter money for a #3.

Bad.

Couldn't disagree with this more. The Red Sox played the "prove you are a consistent ace" game last year and were consequently faced with a guy demanding 25 mill ace over long years package after he did just that.

Here instead of letting the market go nuts for a guy in his prime years they locked him in for essentially the Lackey contract. Is he as proven ? No.

He's also a lot younger and thus they are paying for future improvement and performance. Smart move I'd say.

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat · Apr 6, 2015

bellowthecat said:
I don't think the money is off at all. Pay good money for peak seasons instead of post-peak ones. The league has been trending this way for a while. Glad they were able to do this. People who think this is #1 starter money should look at Mr. Clayton Kershaw. This is the price you pay for mid-rotation workhorses. Shields just got a similar contract and while he will probably be better this year, I'll take Porcello over the life of those contracts.

Right, and Shields is 33

Minneapolis Millers · Apr 6, 2015

I doubt they'll spend this on Porcello AND get Cueto/Zimmermann etc next year. If they get Sonny Gray or similar in trade, fine, but I worry what this does to our vaunted flexibility moving forward. I don't like paying top dollar for second tier talent.

nvalvo · Apr 6, 2015

ivanvamp said:
That's #1 starter money for a guy who many are not sure can be a #1 starter. But I love that they've locked him up for his prime years.

$20 isn't #1 money anymore. Recent deals to #1 pitchers include:

Lester's 6/$155 ($26 per)
Scherzer's 7/$210 ($30 per, although there's some deferred money)
King Felix' 7/$175 ($25 per)
Verlander's 7/$180 ($26 per)
Kershaw's 7/$215 ($31 per)
edited to add: Sabathia's 5/$122 ($24 per)

This deal is much shorter than those, covers younger years, and is cheaper on an AAV basis. I'd say this is paying him to be a #2 type, and hoping that he has ace upside as he enters his prime.

theapportioner · Apr 6, 2015

Hank Scorpio said:
Yikes, they must have a ton of confidence in the guy. Nearly $21M AAV for someone without a very long track record of success.

If he's even 20% likelier to stay healthy/effective over the course of the contract, compared to a comparably talented FA pitcher aged 31, the AAV would be worth it.

nighthob · Apr 6, 2015

mikeford said:
HAHAHAHA wow that is such a colossal overpay

#1 starter money for a #3.

Bad.

I mean essentially this means that they have Porcello for five years and $95 million. That's more than fair for a Lackeyesque starter. What the hell is there to bitch about?

Red(s)HawksFan · Apr 6, 2015

Minneapolis Millers said:
I doubt they'll spend this on Porcello AND get Cueto/Zimmermann etc next year. If they get Sonny Gray or similar in trade, fine, but I worry what this does to our vaunted flexibility moving forward. I don't like paying top dollar for second tier talent.

A) It isn't top dollar.

B) There's plenty of money coming off the books that would allow for a Cueto/Zimmermann type signing...but they're not signing those guys to a top dollar free agent deal anyway, so why pine for it?

benhogan · Apr 6, 2015

My initial guess/thought was 4yrs for $70MM, but they just got his PRIME years so no sweat.

curly2 · Apr 6, 2015

Wow, we always talk about how free agent contracts pay for past performance, not future performance. Past performance definitely doesn't justify the dollars, but hopefully the Sox are right about the expected future performance.

And it's amazing for Porcello that he can cash in again at 31.

chrisfont9 · Apr 6, 2015

nvalvo said:
I thought this might be coming, a la Adrian Gonzalez. GREAT DEAL.

For four post-FA years (aged 28-31)? In this FA market? No, I think that's pretty reasonable.

He will be with the Sox for his age 26-30 years. I think this is the point of the deal: if you're going to overpay on the market, try and get these age years rather than 30+. It's kind of interesting, considering there isn't really a proper "market" for guys this age, given how few of them are available.

RedOctober3829 · Apr 6, 2015

Great job to lock him up early. Would've been over $100 million with a good season. Now him and Buchholz guaranteed for the next 3 seasons if they want.

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat · Apr 6, 2015

Minneapolis Millers said:
I doubt they'll spend this on Porcello AND get Cueto/Zimmermann etc next year. If they get Sonny Gray or similar in trade, fine, but I worry what this does to our vaunted flexibility moving forward. I don't like paying top dollar for second tier talent.

I think this past off-season showed fairly clearly that they aren't going to pay 6+ year deals for $25-30 million per for pitchers over 30. Their vaunted flexibility is for this type of deal.

Bigpupp · Apr 6, 2015

I love Lester but Porcello has a MUCH better chance of living up to this contract than Lester does his. Also, if this isn't the type of contract you're comfortable with then I don't know if one exists. I think this is a very fair deal for both sides.

Red(s)HawksFan · Apr 6, 2015

RedOctober3829 said:
Great job to lock him up early. Would've been over $100 million with a good season. Now him and Buchholz guaranteed for the next 3 seasons if they want.

+ Miley too.

And Kelly...and Rodriguez and Owens and Johnson and Barnes. Lots and lots of potential for a very solid rotation for the next few years.

foulkehampshire · Apr 6, 2015

Porcello was putting up very good numbers behind a terrible defense in 2014 until he hit a bit of a wall in September.

First 180 IP:

3 CG, averaging close to 7 IP a start, 3.05 ERA.

I guess we'll have to see if that guy can show up for 32 games a year over the next 5 years.

Red Sox signed Porcello to four year deal. 4/82.5M

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