Pedey's Extension!!

[VA Sox Fan]

I have no issue what so ever with the contract or the length but I honestly did wonder how long he can play as hard as he does play (as others obviously have too). Interesting article.

 

 

The risks and rewards of signing Pedroia now

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff July 24, 2013 02:05 PM

 

 

Dustin Pedroia has the lowest slugging percentage of his career for a very simple reason. On Opening Day, with the Red Sox up by six runs in the ninth inning, he decided it was an excellent idea to dive into first base.

 

Pedroia was out, as he deserved to be. Diving into first base is almost always a bad idea because it slows you down.

 

In this case it was a terrible idea because Pedroia tore a ligament in his thumb that only recently has fully healed. As a result, he has 32 extra-base hits.

 

That makes signing Pedroia to a seven-year, $100 million extension [which will be announced today] a risky proposition. While Pedroia is to be commended for playing every minute of every game with passion, that takes a toll on his body.

 

Will Pedroia physically be able to play second base at a high level as he gets into his mid to late 30s? If he can't, where will he play? He really doesn't profile at another position.

 

Those are valid questions. The Red Sox have Pedroia under their control through the end of the 2015 season under his present contract. They could have waited until then, assessed his viability and paid him accordingly for five seasons.

 

But the $100 million he will instead receive is based on much more than whether he will be a good second baseman in six or seven years.

 

As the Yankees did with Derek Jeter and the Mets with David Wright, the Red Sox recognize the need to strengthen their brand. Once David Ortiz retires, Pedroia will be the player who embodies their franchise. In times good and bad, he'll be the player who stands up and represents their investment to the public.

 

He will be the player prospects like Jose Iglesias, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley, Garin Cecchini and Blake Swihart will emulate. Whatever the 2016 Red Sox are like, his stamp will be on that team. His personality will be the dominant one in that clubhouse.

 

Long-term contracts and seniority are status in a clubhouse. For the next eight seasons, Pedroia is the sheriff.

 

No formula can determine the worth of that. But there is a worth. That stuff matters when you're trying to run a business. The Red Sox put their faith in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford a few years ago and the whole thing went up in flames. In Pedroia, John Henry and Tom Werner have a player in that room they can trust to do the right thing.

 

The money will come out to $14.23 million a season on the average. That's a lot, but that's not close to outrageous in 2013 terms. There are 46 players who will make more than that this season. That's right, 46.

 

Waiting also could cost the Red Sox more. Robinson Cano will be a free agent after this season and figures to command a deal worth close to $20 million a year. Pedroia's agents, Seth and Sam Levinson, would have welcomed that news. That could have gone to the Red Sox and offered to cut them a break at $17 million a year.

 

Pedroia also has been one of baseball best bargains for years now. Will some of that $14.23 million in 2016 and 2017 be for past serviced rendered? Perhaps. But so what? He was paid $457,000 the year he won the MVP.

 

Baseball's salaries are only going to go up with the television money being funneled into the game. This deal makes financial sense for the Red Sox.

 

Here's some advice for the Sox: Insert a clause telling the guy not to dive into first base.

[Standing Room]

We're probably in or close to the top 5. It's all pretty subjective, but we've had big years from Bogaerts, Bradley and Cecchini, resurgant performances from Ranaudo, Owens and Britton and we added some quality guys in the draft. Our farm system looks much better now than it didn't entering the season, and most people had us ranked in or near the top 10 systems then.

[mvp 78]

This will look like a bargain when Cano, who is a year older, gets paid nearly twice as much for the same level of production at the same position. Since Pedroia's first full year, he he's compiled a 33.3 WAR to Cano's 32.5. Which even if you don't take WAR as a gospel, strongly suggests his value is at the very least similar.

 

Basically this.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

This will look like a bargain when Cano, who is a year older, gets paid nearly twice as much for the same level of production at the same position. Since Pedroia's first full year, he he's compiled a 33.3 WAR to Cano's 32.5. Which even if you don't take WAR as a gospel, strongly suggests his value is at the very least similar.

 

Very prophetic. Good call!

[SoxSport]

Cano has also benefitted vs Pedey by the Yankee stadium factor for LHd hitters. A factor overlooked by teams signing Cano and Granderson. There is bound to be some dropoff in power stats for those guys playing in different parks. Any different park. Conversely, any LHd hitter signed by the Yankees is bound to get a Yankee stadium power boost.

[Bellhorn04]

Cano has also benefitted vs Pedey by the Yankee stadium factor for LHd hitters. A factor overlooked by teams signing Cano and Granderson. There is bound to be some dropoff in power stats for those guys playing in different parks. Any different park.

 

No. Cano is just a good all-around hitter. Career home OPS 858, career road OPS 862.

[BornToRun]

No. Cano is just a good all-around hitter. Career home OPS 858, career road OPS 862.

 

Still not worth 140 million dollars more than Pedey. Iove what leaving so much money on the table says about Dustin and where his priorities are as a player.

[SoxSport]

I said POWER stats.

 

Cano has 16 more HRs and 64 more RBIs at home in 9 seasons--679 home games--16 fewer than road games. SLG% .507 home vs .503 road.

 

Cano is an excellent natural hitter (though his stats are slightly lower against LHP), so the park disparity isn't as great as it is for Granderson. Grandy isn't a 40 HR hitter away from Yankee stadium.

 

But ANY LHd power hitter is going to benefit from hitting in Yankee stadium--a park built for Babe Ruth and all the LHd hitters who followed him.

 

MLB TV has spent most of the day trying to figure out what the Yankees should do now. LOL. Media power.

[User Name]

Almost every hitter in MLB has better home than road stats in MLB, even including some who play in pitcher's parks. You don't know what you're talking about here.

[marklmw]

Almost every hitter in MLB has better home than road stats in MLB, even including some who play in pitcher's parks. You don't know what you're talking about here.

Good point UN but did you really have to include the last sentence?

[User Name]

Good point UN but did you really have to include the last sentence?

 

In this case, yes, because it's a discussion (along with the media money one) that's been discussed ad nauseum X3, and no matter how many times he's proven wrong, he keeps saying the same thing. Remember you're just a puppy dog 'round here.

[marklmw]

In this case, yes, because it's a discussion (along with the media money one) that's been discussed ad nauseum X3, and no matter how many times he's proven wrong, he keeps saying the same thing. Remember you're just a puppy dog 'round here.

 

very well ... I am just trying to build more harmony in the clubhouse ... carry on then.

[Youk Of The Nation]

In this case, yes, because it's a discussion (along with the media money one) that's been discussed ad nauseum X3, and no matter how many times he's proven wrong, he keeps saying the same thing. Remember you're just a puppy dog 'round here.

 

How long someone has been a member of the site has no bearing on their right to point out when you add unnecessarily douchey things to your posts.

 

In this case, I happen to agree with what you said and in fact don't consider it all that bad seeing as SoxSport does indeed tend towards tedious repetitiveness, just wanted to remind you that even newbies can call people out on being jerks.

[User Name]

How long someone has been a member of the site has no bearing on their right to point out when you add unnecessarily douchey things to your posts.

 

In this case, I happen to agree with what you said and in fact don't consider it all that bad seeing as SoxSport does indeed tend towards tedious repetitiveness, just wanted to remind you that even newbies can call people out on being jerks.

 

It was a joke goddamn you.

 

Not the calling out SoxSport on being repetitive mind you.

[User Name]

On an un-douchey extension to my original post:

 

Cano's last three years:

 

Home: .913 OPS, 49 HR's, 58 2B, .542 SLG%

 

Away: .896 OPS, 39 HR's, 77 2B, 525 SLG%

 

I mean seriously, he's a product of NYS?

[Youk Of The Nation]

Yeah those stats definitely don't reflect a guy who has a much bigger advantage at home. Not like Helton's career stats.

[User Name]

And i bet the Mariners get another big bat and pull the fences in a bit more than they did last year. I'm willing to bet a steak dinner Cano outproduces Ellsbury next year by 1.5 WAR (or more), more than justifying the 3 million difference in their 2014 salaries.

[Youk Of The Nation]

And i bet the Mariners get another big bat and pull the fences in a bit more than they did last year. I'm willing to bet a steak dinner Cano outproduces Ellsbury next year by 1.5 WAR (or more), more than justifying the 3 million difference in their 2014 salaries.

 

I don't think anyone would take that bet. Has Ellsbury ever outperformed Cano in WAR other than 2011?

[User Name]

I don't think anyone would take that bet. Has Ellsbury ever outperformed Cano in WAR other than 2011?

 

2008, but Cano was not healthy i believe.

[redsoxrules]

From a recent interview it appears Lester would follow Pedroia and take a home town discount to stay with the team.

[Bellhorn04]

From a recent interview it appears Lester would follow Pedroia and take a home town discount to stay with the team.

 

Good to hear. Though I must say the inaccurate term 'home town discount' irks me. It should be 'stay put' discount or something like that.

[marklmw]

And i bet the Mariners get another big bat and pull the fences in a bit more than they did last year. I'm willing to bet a steak dinner Cano outproduces Ellsbury next year by 1.5 WAR (or more), more than justifying the 3 million difference in their 2014 salaries.

So much disrespect for Jacoby UN ... He was a big part of 2 - that's right - 2 of our Championships ... Did he sell out ... yeah but maybe you and I would do the same if it were our profession ... he is an elite lead off hitter and he will do well with the Yankees. Cano might not have the same numbers that we have seen as he does not have as much of a supporting cast in Seattle. I would pitch around him whenever possible.

[Behindenemylines]

Still not worth 140 million dollars more than Pedey. Iove what leaving so much money on the table says about Dustin and where his priorities are as a player.

 

With Pedey it wasn't about the money. He wants to win, and he wants to do it in Boston. With Cano it was about getting a ten year contract. I'd take Pedey over Cano every day.

[User Name]

So much disrespect for Jacoby UN ... He was a big part of 2 - that's right - 2 of our Championships ... Did he sell out ... yeah but maybe you and I would do the same if it were our profession ... he is an elite lead off hitter and he will do well with the Yankees. Cano might not have the same numbers that we have seen as he does not have as much of a supporting cast in Seattle. I would pitch around him whenever possible.

 

What does respect have to do with production? This isn't a shot at Ellsbury because Cano has always been a more productive player than he is. You need to take that Ellsbury wool off your eyes.

[Behindenemylines]

What does respect have to do with production? This isn't a shot at Ellsbury because Cano has always been a more productive player than he is. You need to take that Ellsbury wool off your eyes.

 

I think its Cano's power numbers that the $pankees are going to miss. No way Ellsbury is going to hit more HRs or drive in more runs then Cano did.