Such a deal we have for you!
Dustin Pedroia, the dude on the 2, today signed a six-year 40.5 mill extension with the Sox. This capstones a stellar year for a fella who is seven inches shorter than our very own Dante. Obviously well deserved and a deal that most will look upon as shrewd for both sides. For D-Pro, it’s income stability in a shaky economy and heartless business that turns yesterday’s boy-wonders into tomorrows after-thoughts (Eric Hinske anyone?). For the Sox it’s budget stability with a guy whose expected to be a core of the live 25 for years to come.
This contract also reinforces the trend amongst teams to buy early when it comes to top flight young talent. The Sox are betting Pedroia stays healthy and continues to put up black plague sick numbers for the next 2,000+ days. In so doing they lock in what will be the core of the team long after Tek, Wake and Senior Tres are gone. Papledap, Papi, Youk and Dustin are the Boston Red Sox. Period. Begone superstar drama queens. Replaced with Tito/Theo types that grind out at bats, hold charity events, avoid doing stupid stuff in public (On the field or off), and perhaps most importantly, can handle everyday life in America’s greatest baseball town.
Implications? Youk should get a similar, though higher, deal since he has an extra year in the bigs under his belt. Look for something to get done this off season unless Repo Man becomes a Scott Boras client. Speaking of Boras, he is partially the inspiration of this kind of deal since it’s his ruthless high dollar contracts that have driven up prices and caused teams to seek alternative strategies to control talent expediture.
More? Well, stabilizing the Sox core player budget at a relatively reasonable amount creates long term budget flexibility for, say, signing Sexy Texy to a dumbfoundingly mega deal.
And finally, what does this mean for the baby bosses down the 95? The pinheads will likely continue the squabble between sign-everyone-for-any-amount-anytime and long term, logical, farm system oriented planning. Bet on the big spending short-term blindness for now.
Next podcast likely this week or early the following. Topics beyond the above will include the ‘09 sked, The Taz, CC dawdling, Tek, the possible Lowe road back B, the bullpen restocking, likely goodbyes to Cora, the Mayor, and Timlin, ticket on-sales, Stitcher and more.
Categories: 2008 Season
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