Not arguing this was a good signing for a good amount, but MLB Tonight says Victorino walked away from 4 years, $44MM from the Indians.
That almost proves my point, though. $5 million for a single season will be barely replacement level in 2016. Hell, Grady Sizemore got $5 million LAST SEASON for a single year, to not play baseball, after two years of, ahem, NOT PLAYING BASEBALL.
So it doesn't make any sense to refuse an extra year if it's only going to cost $5 million. If Victorino sucks by 2016, cut him for the 4th year of the contract and the Red Sox barely miss that extra $5 million on a $150 million+ payroll. At the very least, he'll probably still be a decent defensive replacement and platoon player against LHP.
But I'm sure people in the industry are already laughing at Cherington considering how closely together the Pagan and Victorino deals occurred. Way to get the older, less talented player for one less year at the same money, Ben.