NEW YORK - Rick Porcello isn't worth the money the Sox gave him, but he does have value.
By now, it's obvious that the Red Sox massively overpaid when they gave Porcello a four-year, $82.5 million extension earlier this season. The Sox pressed the panic button, and determined to sign Porcello before he hit free agency, gave him more money than he was worth.
That can't be undone now. And remember, the extension hasn't kicked in yet, meaning that Porcello won't start earning that salary until next season. (This year's salary was the result of a settlement before his final season of arbitration eligibility.
Still, Porcello has pitched better in the second half, and more specifically, since he came back from a DL stint in late August.
After last night, in which Porcello allowed four first-inning runs, then shut down the Yankees for seven shutout innings, Porcello is 4-3 with a 3.22 ERA in his last seven starts, averaging exactly a strikeout per inning.
Go back to the start after his notorious Canada Day outing in Toronto (two innings pitched, seven runs allowed, including three homers) and Porcello is 5-5 with a 3.58 ERA).
That's not the kind of performance that would ordinarily merit a salary in excess of $20 million. But it is suitable enough for a No. 3 starter in next year's rotation. And that, given the contract signed, is about the best the Red Sox can hope for.