At one time, I would have completely agreed with this. However, after seeing Greinke receive a larger contract after opting out, I wouldn't be surprised to see Price do the same if he pitches well this season. Also, if Price is unhappy in Boston, he just might be willing to leave a little money on the table. So maybe he doesn't get quite as much, but he could receive a comparable contract from a team that he would be much happier pitching for.
That said, there are two things working heavily against Price opting out:
1. His elbow
2. The new CBA penalties
I was not as dead set against Hosmer as you were, per se. I was just dead set against the type of contract I figured he would get. Seven years for him is just crazy.
Santana's deal is more reasonable, but even with that, the $20 mil a year is a bit much. Plus, he had that dreaded qualifying offer attached to him.
I am perfectly fine with having Moreland back.
I understand that line of thinking. But it seems like whenever we've signed a guy who had any sort of character/personality issues attached to him, it hasn't worked out very well. Maybe it's because of that old adage about Boston being a tough place to play. But acquiring Machado would make me very nervous.
LOL I know there are several posters who feel this way, but I like the characters on the team. I got frustrated with many of them throughout the season, but I like the team.
I don't like Machado, but I fully admit that if the Sox traded for or signed him, my opinion is likely to change.
My reasons for not wanting to get Machado go beyond my not liking him.
My opinion that we currently need another #2 starter is based on the uncertainty of Price's (and ERod's) health. At the time that Sale was acquired, he was not a necessity. He was an expensive luxury.
Now it turns out in hindsight that we did need Sale, but Dombrowski didn't know that at the time. The whole point behind giving Price that huge contract was that he was our much needed ace. We didn't need a second ace.