Red Sox officially sign David Price, designate Garin Cecchini for assignment

David Price's deal is official, as the Red Sox sent out a press release to announce the signing of a seven-year, $217 million pact roughly an hour before his introductory press conference. There was another tidbit of news to announce, though, as Boston's 40-man roster was full and therefore room needed to be opened up for Price. The player who was designated to make room for the new Sox ace was former prospect Garin Cecchini -- while it's a bit of a surprise given his past potential, we're a couple of years removed from that at this point.

Cecchini seemed like a great fit for Fenway Park with a swing that could produce doubles and the patience to get on base when that didn't work, but he never truly got the chance to give the Sox that. And it's not because the Sox held him down in the minors, either: Cecchini failed to blossom after successful runs in the low minors and at Double-A, as he hit a wall in Triple-A that only got taller and wider in his second go at the level.

This kind of thing can especially stick out with a new boss in charge, too: Cecchini has had three different general managers since he was drafted, and President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski is new to the organization. While he's been filled in on what the Sox have and is familiar with it at this point, first impressions can be hard to shake, and Cecchini has given his new boss little reason to skip this move for another.

His patience, always a positive for him early on in his career, became something of a burden as Cecchini devolved more into a passive participant in the plate who became as likely to strike out looking as he did to draw a free pass. As those walks became more elusive, his plan fell apart as pitchers exploited holes he could not fill, and the result was .213/.286/.296 2015. Combine that it was his second stint at Triple-A and that he was 24 years old at the time, and you can see why he was the guy to go from the 40-man rather than the younger Sean Coyle or a potential relief piece like Noe Ramirez. It didn't help Cecchini that he's not much of a help on defense, either: if he had a more defined position, it would be harder to send him packing, but alas, he's a below-average third baseman or left fielder who isn't hitting, potential or no.

Cecchini was also so bad that he just might avoid being claimed on waivers during the lead-in and excess of the winter meetings, as teams focus on the bigger picture than a 25-year-old whose slash stats all sat under .300 this past summer. That would give him another chance in the organization, and without having to use up a 40-man roster space until he proves he deserves it back.

Of course, with Theo Epstein -- whose Red Sox drafted Cecchini in the fourth round in 2010 -- and the Cubs in existence, chances are just as good, if not better, that Cecchini will be relocating to Chicago's Triple-A squad soon.