There’s no doubt about it.  David Price is a special Pitcher.  A very special pitcher.

So, when Price signed a 7 year, $217 million Deal with the Red Sox, most Baseball Fans were only mildly shocked.  After all, Price’s price as a Free Agent was, well, priceless.  And, Boston could certainly afford the ace.  And, if Price continues to be as good as we all think, he can opt out in 2018 if $31 million per year isn’t enough to toss a baseball.

Zack Greinke was another one with a stratospheric contract, but one that we all expected to happen.  Most of us, however, just didn’t expect the talented 32-year-old with the movie star looks to end up in Arizona–a team not known to play in the highest levels of free agency.

The one that did shock most baseball fans, however, is the free agent signing of Jeff Samardzija who inked a five year, $90 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.  Samardzija was 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA last season with the White Sox.  Lifetime, Samardzija is 47-61 with a 4.09 ERA.  Not the kind of numbers that you’d think would net a pitcher $18 million per season.

Samardzija’s signing  makes one wonder.  Is a #4 or #5 pitcher going to make Las Vegas or any of the best online betting sites take notice and give San Francisco a better chance of winning the World Series in 2016?  Sure, Samardzija is a serviceable pitcher, and he spent much of his career with a bad Cubs team, but $18 million is a lot of money for an average MLB starter.  Samardzija’s take makes you almost feel like Price was a bargain.

Maybe that’s why David Price reserved the right to opt out in three years.