Considering he has only three years of experience, this is one of the biggest contracts ever given out to a player who wasn’t arbitration eligible yet. But with his career trajectory heading north, the Red Sox thought it’d be a good time to lock Pedroia into a long-term deal.

The big years of the contract come in 2013 and 2014 when he’ll make $10 million each season. However, if he wins an MVP before those years, he’ll make $12 million each of those seasons. He also has other bonuses that could raise the overall value of the contract.

A seventh year on the deal gives the Red Sox an option to pay him $11 million in 2015 or to buy him out for under $1 million. If he stays near his current playing level, he’ll obviously be a members of the Red Sox for a long, long time.

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Pedroia, the second baseman for the Boston Red Sox, handily won the award by beating out Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins and his teammate Kevin Youkilis. Pedroia not only was very good in the field, at the plate he was one of the most dangerous players in the AL.

He finished the season with a .326 batting average and 17 homers, 83 RBIs, 118 runs scored and 213 hits. The 25-year-old improved his numbers across the board in his second full season in the big leagues.

Morneau, the first baseman for the Minnesota Twins, also had a really good season. He finished 2008 with a .300 batting average to go with 23 homers, 129 RBIs and 97 runs scored. Fellow first baseman Youkilis had 29 homers, 115 RBI to go along with a batting average of .312.

However, when it was all said and done, the big award in the American League was won by the smallest candidate.

Post from: Knuckle Curve