The Boston Red Sox signed pitcher Rick Porcello to a contract extension, announcing the news after beating the Phillies on Opening Day and that now adds a strong piece to the rotation for a few more years and this comes after the Red Sox had heavy interest this offseason in a trade for Cole Hamels.
According to Hardball Talk, Porcello signed a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension with the Red Sox. Porcello was acquired this offseason in the trade with the Tigers involving Yoenis Cespedes and now he will be a part of the rotation for the next few years. Porcello is just 26-years-old and now he will be with the team through 2019 and he is making over $12 million in salary this season.
WEEI.com reported earlier in the offseason that Porcello did not want to negotiate during the season and that may have helped move things along for the two sides. The Red Sox spent big this offseason with Hanley Ramirez on a four-year, $88 million deal and Pablo Sandoval on a five-year, $95 million deal and now they have extended Porcello.
Porcello had a strong season last year for the Tigers, going 15-13 and putting up a career best 3.43 ERA and the Red Sox are hoping he can be a consistent innings eater in the rotation. Porcello pitched over 200 innings for the first time last season and he comes in having at least 31 starts in each of the past four seasons and in five of the past six. The team feels they have a strong top of the rotation with Clay Buchholz and Porcello with Wade Miley, Joe Kelly and Justin Masterson.
The team may look at adding a player like Hamels later in the season or if they suffer and injury, but right now the Red Sox feel they have one of the best rotations in the AL. Porcello will start against the Phillies next.
The Red Sox beat up Hamels on Opening Day against the Phillies, tagging him for four earned runs and hitting some home runs off of him. The Red Sox feel they have the chance to win the AL East this season and while they have depth in the rotation, they could consider a trade for Hamels later in the season. According to the Boston Herald, the team made a "serious" offer to the Phillies before the season starter, but Philly is holding out for more prospects. Hamels likely will be a main target this summer at the trading deadline.
"We think Rick is a really good pitcher, and we think he's a very talented pitcher who is driven to succeed and driven to be as good as he possibly can be," GM Ben Cherington said to ESPN.com. "As I mentioned before, any negotiation has all sorts of variables. Performance is one of them. Talent is one of them. Age. A team's needs. All are variables to consider.''