The Boston Red Sox have won three World Series titles since 2004 and are hoping to add to their trophy case once again in 2016. The Red Sox are hoping to do this not only for the team’s history and for its fans but also for David Ortiz, the longtime Red Sox star who will be retiring at the end of the 2016 season.
One thing that the Red Sox have done as a means of hoping to get back to the top is to bolster the team’s pitching staff. This comes from the team’s move to bring in David Price to anchor the team’s rotation. The Red Sox are paying a huge price to do this but it has helped get the Red Sox to move up near the top of the line for the odds to win the 2016 World Series. It is no surprise that the team would do this as there has been a strong sense of competition in the AL East over the years.
In particular, the Red Sox have +900 betting odds to win the World Series in the coming year. They are tied with the Chicago Cubs for the second-best odds. Only the San Francisco Giants, who have +800 odds, have a better chance to win accord to major sportsbooks.
What Makes World Series Price Special?
David Price will certainly be a big game-changer for the Red Sox in 2016. He has been extremely dominant throughout his career as he won the 2012 AL Cy Young Award and has been a finalist for it three other times.
Last year Price was traded from Detroit to Toronto midway through the season. Price went 9-1 while with the Blue Jays and 18-5 record for the entire year. He also led the sport with a 2.45 ERA.
Of course, this is all going to be at a massive cost. Price is going to be paid $30 million in the coming year. His seven-year contract is worth more than $200 million, thus making him one of the most expensive players in the entire game.
A Necessity for the Team
This move will bring the Red Sox a little more help in terms of trying to get somewhere in 2016. The Red Sox were in last place in the AL East with a 78-84 record in 2015.
The Red Sox had a 4.31 team ERA in 2015. This total was rather weak although the Red Sox do have a few younger starters including Eduardo Rodriguez and Henry Owens who could potentially benefit from having Price along with them for the coming season.
What About the Jays?
Price’s move to Yawkey Way leaves a big hole in the Toronto Blue Jays for the coming season. The Jays only have +1400 odds from the online sportsbook to win the World Series. The Jays do have Marco Estrada and Drew Hutchison in the lineup but the amazingly proficient offense may be what carries the Blue Jays through the coming season. The challenge that came about from the David Price deal in Boston will certainly be one that the Jays are going to try and get through in the coming baseball season.