Price: 'I've been saving all my postseason wins for the Red Sox'

The Boston Red Sox officially have their ace.

Southpaw David Price has signed a seven-year contract that will keep him with the club through the 2022 season, the team announced Friday.

The deal is reportedly worth $217 million, and includes an opt-out clause following the 2018 campaign.

In typical Boston media fashion, Price immediately faced a series of tough questions at his introductory press conference, including concerns over his mediocre playoff numbers to this point in his career.

"I guess I've been saving all my postseason wins for the Red Sox," Price, who has a 2-7 record with a lofty 5.12 ERA in 14 career playoff appearances, joked. "I know good things are going to happen to me in October."

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Price was then drilled about his complicated and strained relationship with undisputed Red Sox clubhouse leader David Ortiz over the years, but quickly diffused the situation.

"I'm ready to be one of his really good friends ... the guy's a competitor, and that's what I am too," Price declared.

Price also recollected not having a great relationship with Ian Kinsler prior to being traded to the Detroit Tigers, but says they're now "really close."

Red Sox executives also fielded questions, and chairman Tom Werner revealed Price has been on the club's radar since August - when Dave Dombrowski came aboard as the club's president of baseball operations. Werner said Price was the first player Dombrowski mentioned at the start of the offseason about how to improve the club.

The 30-year-old hurler will wear No. 24 for the Red Sox instead of his usual No. 14, because that number is retired by the club to honor Hall of Fame outfielder Jim Rice. The club's history of great players and recent championships were just some of the reasons Price gave for signing in Boston.

"This is a place that wins," Price said. "This is a place that has winning in its history, and they definitely have winning in their future. That's something I want to be a part of."

Price, a five-time All-Star and the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner, went 18-5 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 32 starts, split between the Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays, to finish as the runner-up in Cy Young voting.

The Red Sox designated third baseman Garin Cecchini for assignment in order to make room for Price on the 40-man roster.