Pedroia gets six year deal

[Paradisecity]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3741730

 

The Red Sox rewarded their newest MVP with an extension Wednesday.

 

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia has signed a six-year, $40.5 million extension with Boston through 2014 with a club option for the 2015 season, ESPN's Peter Gammons is reporting.

 

Generously listed at 5-foot-9, Pedroia has quickly piled up a huge stack of hardware. Besides being named the AL's MVP, he also won the Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger this offseason. He was the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year and capped off that season with a World Series ring.

 

"I had to overcome a lot of things to prove people wrong, and so far I've done that," the 25-year-old Pedroia said on a conference call from his home in Arizona after he won the MVP award. "I have to find a way to have that edge."

 

Pedroia led the AL in hits, runs and doubles in helping the Red Sox win the wild-card berth. He batted .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs and also stole 20 bases.

 

Pedroia became a fan favorite at Fenway Park with his scrappy approach. In a lineup depleted by injuries to David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew and the midseason trade of Manny Ramirez, Pedroia took his hearty hacks wherever needed -- while he usually batted second, he also hit leadoff and cleanup.

 

Nellie Fox was the previous second baseman to become AL MVP, in 1959 with the White Sox. No position has produced fewer MVPs -- just 10 overall since the AL and NL awards were first presented in 1931.

 

Pedroia was the fourth second baseman to win the AL MVP award, along with Fox, Joe Gordon (1942) and Charlie Gehringer (1937). Six second basemen have won the NL honor, with Jeff Kent, Ryne Sandberg and Joe Morgan doing it most recently.

[Jasonbay44]

That's a good deal for both sides, I'm Glad he's locked up for a while.

[rician blast]

Nicely done.

[BSN07]

This is an awesome deal, the Sox locked him up long term for a decent price. Welll I say decent price I mean, it's a big deal for someone not arb. eligable. But this will keep Pedroia happy. Instead of going year by year and arguing over $ every off season.

 

 

 

I'm glad to see Pedroia will be around for awhile.

 

 

I wonder who could be next to get extension. Lester and Papelbon are the next 2 most important I think.

[Teddyballgame10]

Thats a steal im shocked, great move.

[Paradisecity]

Youk is far more important than Paps, IMO

[riverside sluggers]

F--in A!!! This gets me pumped before Im off to work. Good to know that Pedroia will be donning the Red B for some time

[TheKilo]

Signing bonus - $1.5 million

Base salaries
2009 - $1.5 million
2010 - $3.5 million
2011 - $5.5 million
2012 - $8 million
2013 - $10 million
2014 - $10 million

Club option
2015 - $11 million (or a $500,000 buyout)

[BoSox21]

thats the kinda deal that makes me stand up and applaud

[Paradisecity]

Wow they really backloaded it.

 

I wish they had done more of it up front. I know its a little unconventional from a finance standpoint though.

[ORS]

They basically bought out his first 3 FA years at $31M (assuming the option is excercised). That's a good deal for an elite player up the middle. He gets a raise over league min this year. The three years of $3.5M, $5.5M, and $8M probably range from heavy to light respectively in comparison to what he'd get in his arb years.

 

Looks like the new face of the franchise will be around for a while. I'm cool with that.

[BoSox21]

I wonder if this irks Lester and Youkilis a bit though. I KNOW it irks Papelbon

[TheKilo]

Youkilis is going to get his soon enough anyway, Lester has only had one very successful year, Papelbon got a raise last offseason.

 

I'm sure they're working on extensions for each.

[Gom]

Good move by Epstein. Ah...how nice it must be to have a GM who has an idea of what he's doing.

[Dojji]

I wonder if this irks Lester and Youkilis a bit though. I KNOW it irks Papelbon

 

If I know Theo, he's definitely been quietly making offers to Lester and Papelbon since the offseason started. Youks not quite so sure since he's a bit older.

[Cocos Disciples]

Cool, I'm pleased.

[MANNYHOF24]

Pretty darn good deal for the redsox, sounds a little bit like the deal Longoria got from Tampa last spring.

[TheKilo]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/12/03/pedroia.redsox.ap/index.html

 

Francona: "With the six-year contract, I feel like I got a bump in salary because of his cribbage skills."

[Dojji]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/12/03/pedroia.redsox.ap/index.html

 

LOL I hope we get to keep Tito for the life of Peddy's contract. Sounds like those two have great chemistry.

 

Tito's been like an uncle for some of the younger players coming through -- especially Pedroia and Lester.

[CalvnHobs6]

“I understood all that stuff. I understood that if I went year-to-year I probably would have made more money. But I’m in a place that I love,” Pedroia said. “My first thought was, ‘I play for the best team. Who wouldn’t want to play for the Boston Red Sox? We’re going to have a chance to win every year.’ … It fits.”

 

Great quote. I'm thrilled about this contract.

[Paradisecity]

It made perfect sense for the Sox to resign Petey first out of everyone. He has shown in the past that he is a pretty selfless guy (note the ASU scholarship forfeit the chance to win).

 

Suddenly the MVP of the league is signing for low money in a recession that many fear will become a depression.

 

I know age and years of service matter, but this still is not a god sign for other free agentsand players looking for big extensions- Youk included

[Dipre]

Great move by FO, glad to see Little Papi get the extension he deserved, with a great hometown discount to boot.

 

In my mind, Pap will be the next to sign......followed by Youk and then Lester.

[YAZMAN]

Nice to see him locked in like that.

[Thumper]

Beautiful move.

 

Good to know we've got him for some time to come!

[BSN07]

I think Youk might be the last to get signed. Alot depends for him. Lars, Papi, Tex, Lowell all could factor in on him signing long term. I wouldn't expect anything long term for him until Papi and or Lowell are gone(2 years).

 

 

 

 

IMO Papelbon is next. While Youk and Lester will have to wait a season or 2.

[Kurt Schwartz]

Just need three or four more guys like this (winning attitude) and we'll be in the WS again

[BoSox21]

Just need three or four more guys like this (winning attitude) and we'll be in the WS again

 

Just need a healthy team and we'll be in the WS again

[Cocos Disciples]

Just need three or four more guys like this (winning attitude) and we'll be in the WS again

 

Winning attitude and AL MVP.

 

But yeah, we are not 3-4 Pedroias away from the WS.

[Dojji]

Mind you, 3-4 Pedroias wouldn't be a bad thing to have, you could have the others play SS, CF, 3B and DH and have a moderately awesome lineup.

[Dipre]

Mind you' date=' 3-4 Pedroias wouldn't be a bad thing to have, you could have the others play SS, CF, 3B and DH and have a moderately awesome lineup.[/quote']

 

And a whole lot of smack-talk..........