I am not sure who deserves more of a standing ovation, Dustrin Pedroia, or Theo Epstein?  When it was announced yesterday that the reigning AL MVP was signing a 6-year 40.5 million dollar contract to ensure his best years are with the Red Sox, my jaw dropped.  Usually that is my reaction to when I see undeserving players like Barry Zito being signed to 100million dollar contracts.   But who was more responsible for this great deal going down?  The GM or the MVP? Probably both.

Is the payroll high in Boston? Of course it is, but in comparison with what the Yankees have done, they have spent their money much more wisely since Theo Epstein took over as GM, and it is still considerably less.  He refuses to overpay for guys that helped them win World Series, just because they feel it is owed to them out of loyalty.  Two of the best moves Epstein has made were one the ones he didn’t.  He did not re-sign Johnny Damon or Pedro Martinez.  He knew that their best years were behind them and allowed them to be overpaid by both New York teams.  This eventually led to roster spots being opened for future contributors like Jon Lester and Jacoby Ellsbury.  He had a vision of how this team should be built, a mix of solid veterans, as well as young studs.  Others around him wanted to go tit for tat with the Yankees with signing big name FAs, and Epstein wanted complete control of how he wanted to build a winner again after they won it all in 2004.  He even walked out on the franchise because it was going to be his way or the highway for the price he though he was worth.  He was eventually brought back in and constructed another World Series champion in 2007.  Brian Cashman, the Yankees GM, would like to do the same with the Yanks, but the Steinbrenners won’t let that happen.  Now that Manny is gone, there is no real outrageous contract left in the Red Sox organization, that deal was not even under Epstein’s watch.

Pedoria deserves a great deal of praise as well for this deal.  He could have demanded about 9-11 million a year.  It is highly unlikely that he has hit his ceiling.  If Jason Varitek does not comeback to the Sox, Pedroia should get serious consideration as the new captain of the team.  This contract allows much better flexibility for any deals the Sox may want to pursue in this upcoming offseason, especially if they want to look into Mark Teixeira or any of the pitchers available.

This is difficult for me to swallow, as a lifetime Yankee fan, but this was wonderful work done by the fucking Sox. Damn.  Excuse me while I vomit.

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