Pitcher Signs $130M Deal With His Childhood Dream Team

When Ranger Suárez was growing up in Venezuela, all his friends wore Yankees gear and cheered for the Bronx Bombers. The young baseball fan had one question: why wasn't anyone rooting for Boston?

That childhood curiosity just turned into a five-year, $130 million contract. On Wednesday, the 30-year-old left-handed pitcher put on his Red Sox jersey for the first time, officially joining the team he chose as his favorite more than two decades ago.

"Ever since I was a little kid, when we would watch baseball on TV, what would be on was Red Sox-Yankees," Suárez said at his introductory press conference. "And everyone was going for the Yankees. And I asked, 'Why is no one going for Boston?' And that's where the interest started."

The Red Sox made Suárez their top target this offseason, bringing him in as their second starting pitcher behind Garrett Crochet. The deal came together quickly after Boston's pursuit of third baseman Alex Bregman fell through in early January.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow praised Suárez's track record of success in tough environments. "He's got excellent command, he's unpredictable, he's got a very deep repertoire that keeps hitters off balance," Breslow said.

Sunny's Take

Sometimes the universe rewards loyalty. While other kids plastered their walls with Derek Jeter posters, young Ranger was learning about Babe Ruth, Pedro Martínez, and David Ortiz wearing the iconic Boston uniform. He didn't pick the easy choice or follow the crowd.

Now he gets to pitch at Fenway Park, wearing the same colors that captivated him as a child watching grainy broadcasts thousands of miles from home. His postseason experience with the Phillies speaks volumes too: a 1.48 ERA over 11 playoff appearances shows he thrives when the pressure peaks.

The Red Sox are betting on a pitcher who brings more than statistics. They're getting someone who already bleeds red for reasons that have nothing to do with money.

"I'm just looking forward to putting my own little grain of rice into what we're doing here," Suárez said, using a Venezuelan expression about contributing to something bigger than yourself.

The kid who asked "why not Boston?" is about to find out exactly why his childhood instinct was right all along.