Red Sox Sign AL MVP to Big Deal

Dustin Pedroia, the 2009 AL MVP who also won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, has been rewarded by the Boston Red Sox with a 6-year, $40.5 million contract extension with a 2015 option. This deal will take Pedroia through three arbitration seasons and two-free agency periods. Pedroia will receive a signing bonus totaling $1.5 million and a salary of $1.5 million for '09. Salaries of $3.5 million, $5.5 million, $8 million will be granted in what should be his three years of arbitration eligibility. Pedroia will also receive $10 million in both 2013 and 2014. The deal also includes a team option of $11 million in 2015 or the opportunity of a $500,000 buyout. Last season, Pedroia led the AL in hits, runs and doubles. He batted .326 with 17 homers and 83 RBIs with 20 stolen bases.