Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Your Morning Dump...The Dodgers throw copious amounts of cash at Greinke

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that Greinke and the Dodgers are in agreement, and that the contract is only pending a physical. It’ll wind up as a six-year, $147 million pact, which represents the highest annual average committed to a pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball.

NBC Sports: Dodgers reach six-year, $147 million deal with Zack Greinke

Yeah, that's a good face to make. Not because you can now buy Los Angeles, because you are going to be driven insane by the LA media. This doesn't seal the deal for a World Series. It just makes for Zack Greinke's anxiety issues to be pushed to the limit when he gets his balls busted for making $24.5 million per season and the Dodgers are under .500.

So, what does this have to do with the Sox? They were never really in on the insanity of chasing Greinke, but the Rangers were. If the Rangers did sign Greinke, they would have likely given up on resigning Josh Hamilton. Take the Rangers out of the picture, and Hamilton is more affordable, maybe by a few pennies, and the Red Sox could have been the highest bidder.

Now, the picture is painted a little more clearly, the Red Sox can forget about Hamilton, and fill in the gaps elsewhere for a lot less money. That will gain the approval of 3/4 of the Ted's Army staff.

Related: Herald: Source: Dodgers try to close deal for Zack Greinke

On Page 2, David Ortiz is looking to be 100% by February

Recap: Another loss

The Sox lost again, as expected. David Price went the distance to get his 19th win of the season as the Rays took this one 5-2.

I wonder how many people actually watched this game. The Rays came in on a 5, now 6 game winning streak and the Sox have been dead for months. The Sox honored the 2004 World Series Champion Red Sox before the game, and that was the most notable Red Sox highlight.

The Sox got their two runs by way of a Danny Valencia RBI single in the 2nd and a Price balk that scored Nava. Pedey was the top performer at the plate for the Sox, going 2-for-4, with a double and single. Pedey and Valencia were the only 2 Sox not to strikeout in this game.

As mentioned, David Price shut the Sox down, going the distance and striking out 13. The Rays figured Buchholz out this time, as he was tagged for all 5 runs (4 earned), on 8 hits in 6 innings of work. Clay is doing his best Tim Wakefield impression by going 7 straight starts without a win. The bullpen stopped the bleeding, but Price made another great case for the Cy Young Award.

Losses are fine with me, as long as the Sox can lock a top draft pick.

Box Score

Recap: David Price shuts down Sox bats

AP

There is not much to say about this one. David Price pitched an 8 inning 3-hitter, as the Sox dropped their second straight, 4-0.Kyle Farnsworth came in to pitch a perfect 9th to get his 22nd save.

The Red Sox offense consisted of 3 hits, an Ellsbury triple, and a 2 singles from Pedroia and Youkilis. Ellsbury wasted his triple on a base running blunder when he broke for home on a Gonzalez swinging bunt to the pitcher. Ellsbury was thrown out in a run-down that allowed Gonzo to take second. That was the closest they got to scoring all afternoon.

John Lackey was handed his first loss in seven starts as he gave up 6 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 3 walks, and struck out 7, over 6 2/3.  Two of those runs were solo home runs to Upton and Longoria. Ben Zobrist hit his league leading 39th, and 40th doubles.

The Red Sox will be looking to heal these wounds by beating up on the last place Royals this weekend.

Box Score