Pedroia signs six-year deal

Team captain Jason Varitek won't be around much longer, even if he does re-sign with the Sox. The 25-year-old Pedroia, however, is now signed through 2014, plenty of time to assert his influence on a clubhouse that is getting younger as the Sox integrate home-grown talent. That hardly means Pedroia will inherit the captaincy any time soon, nor would it be necessary. Pedroia, along with the talents that helped win those awards, as well as the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year, has already made himself a force in the organization. And now he has a long-term deal to cement that place.

"My first thought about the whole thing was, I play for the best team in the major leagues," said Pedroia, who hit .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs this past season while earning $457,000. "Who wouldn't want to play for the Boston Red Sox? We're going to have an opportunity to win every single year. The fans are the best; the city embraces their team. So, why not? It fits."

Having started contract discussions in mid-August, the sides reached agreement in recent days. Pedroia's deal can grow to as much as $53 million with an option year and bonuses for winning another MVP Award or for finishing in the top three in the MVP voting in any year. The option grows by $1 million for each top three or directly to $13 million (the ceiling) for a second win, and has a $500,000 buyout.

Pedroia will receive a $1.5 million signing bonus, with salaries of $1.5 million in 2009, $3.5 million in 2010, $5.5 million in 2011, $8 million in 2012, and $10 million each in 2013 and '14. That makes the average salary - important for determining the Sox' payroll for the luxury tax - $6.75 million per year, though it would be a little less than $7.3 million with the option year included.