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Being one of the best lefties in Major League Baseball paid off for David Price, who agreed Tuesday to a seven-year, $217 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Price was 18-5 with an AL-leading 2.45 ERA last season with the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays, who acquired him at the trade deadline and got nine wins in 10 decicisions from the 6-foot-6 pitcher. The American League Cy Young Award winner in 2012 and the runner-up twice in his seven big-league seasons, Price has a 3.09 ERA with 1,372 strikeouts and 104 wins.

Price began his career with Tampa Bay, but was shipped to Detroit in 2014. With Boston, he will try to help turn around a team that has finished last in its division in three of the last four seasons. The Red Sox were already active in making improvements, with General Manager Dave Dombrowski trading prospects to San Diego for closer Craig Kimbrel last month.

Price joins a rotation that, barring injuries and trades, is expected to include Wade Miley, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez and Clay Buchholz.