BOSTON -- The duck boats hadn't even left Fenway Park yet, but Red Sox lefty David Price already made a decision regarding his future: He will remain in Boston for the final four years of his contract.
Price had until midnight ET on Wednesday to opt out of the remaining four years of the seven-year, $217-million contract he signed in December 2015, but the World Series hero didn't even give it a thought.
"Yeah, I'm opting in. I'm not going anywhere," he said. "I want to win here. We did that this year, and I want to do it again. There wasn't any reconsideration on my part ever. I came here to win. We did that this year and that was very special, and now we want to do it again."
At times during Price's first three seasons with the Red Sox, there was speculation that he would consider opting out because of heat from the fans for his past postseason failures and a relationship with the media that was sometimes contentious.
But Price never hinted he would opt out, and now it's official he won't.
"I never had a problem with the fans. It was you guys [in the media] I had a problem with," he said. "That's it. Yeah, they supported me extremely well."
Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez was pleased to hear that Price will stay with the Sox.
"David Price wanted to love Boston, and Boston wanted to love him," Martinez said. "It was just a matter of getting the monkey off his back and actually doing something positive. David Price said very early in the season, it didn't matter what he did in the regular season, he wanted to prove something in the postseason for the city of Boston and for the team, and he did it. This is a warrior. I'm extremely proud of him."
After going winless in his first 11 career postseason starts, Price couldn't have ended that drought in any more dramatic fashion. He pitched a gem against the Astros on three days' rest to win Game 5 of the American League Championship Series and clinch a World Series berth. Price then beat the Dodgers with six solid innings in Game 2 of the World Series and was again masterful in clinching Game 5.
"He should have been the co-MVP of the World Series," said Red Sox owner John Henry. "I can't imagine we would have wound up winning without David Price this year."
Henry was also enthused to hear Price is staying put.
"That's great news," Henry said.
Did Henry ever think there was a chance Price wouldn't fulfill the entire seven years of the contract?
"Sure, you come to Boston and it's a tough town in many ways. So I think [the opt-out] was probably there because it gave him an opportunity to see how it is," Henry said. "I think he wanted to see what it would be like. It would be hard for me to ever leave. I would assume David feels the same way at this point."