The Red Sox wasted no time locking up American League MVP Dustin Pedroia with a six-year, $40.5 million contract, with an option for 2015, that takes them through three arbitration and two free-agent seasons.
It is one of the four biggest non-arbitration deals ever, along with the contracts given to Hanley Ramirez, David Wright and Ryan Braun.
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 a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger this offseason. He was the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year and capped off that season with a World Series ring.
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.
The deal demonstrated how much the Red Sox value Pedroia's production, energy and leadership at a middle-of-the-field position.
That it got done this quickly shows how much Pedroia loves playing in Boston, and that he prefers playing to dickering over arbitration and free-agent dollars. His favorite phrase is "it's all about winning."
And he means it.
Source: Peter Gammons
