David Price not opting out of contract - MLB

I don’t think anyone seriously thought that David Price was going to opt-out of his contract and leave the Red Sox. The possibility existed, however, at least until a few minutes ago. That’s when Price told reporters assembled for the Sox’ World Series parade that he isn’t going anywhere.

Price is still owed $127 million for the next four years on the seven-year, $217 million deal he signed before the 2016 season. The remaining amount breaks down to an average of $31.75 million a season. Despite Price’s playoff performance and solid regular season play, no one was going to pay him that kind of money if he opted for free agency. And, for that matter, no one was going to give him more than $127 million over a longer term than four years at this point either.

Until recently there was a chance that Price making that kind of money in his age 33-36 seasons might’ve led to a lot of stress and heat in Boston, but now that he’s a World Series hero, I presume he’ll be cut a lot more slack by the often hostile media and fan base.

Follow @craigcalcaterra

CINCINNATI — The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Noah Syndergaard on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a blister on the index finger of his right throwing hand.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the timetable for Syndergaard’s return is unknown despite the 15-day designation.

“The physical, the mental, the emotional part, as he’s talked about, has taken a toll on him,” Roberts said. “So, the ability to get him away from this. He left today to go back to Los Angeles to kind of get back to normalcy.”

Syndergaard allowed six runs and seven hits in three innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, raising his ERA to 7.16.

Syndergaard (1-4) has surrendered at least five runs in three straight starts.

Syndergaard has been trying to return to the player he was before Tommy John surgery sidelined him for the better part of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Roberts said Syndergaard will need at least “a few weeks” to both heal and get away from baseball and “reset.”

“I think searching and not being comfortable with where he was at in the moment is certainly evident in performance,” Roberts said. “So hopefully this time away will provide more clarity on who he is right now as a pitcher.

“Trying to perform when you’re searching at this level is extremely difficult. I applaud him from not running from it, but it’s still very difficult. Hopefully it can be a tale of two stories, two halves when he does come back.”