5:16 PM Wed, Dec 03, 2008 | Permalink
Joe McDonald Email
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By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON _ Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia sat in the interview room at Fenway Park Wednesday afternoon dressed in a black suit, with a pinstriped shirt and gray tie.
The inside of his pants pockets were a bright new shade of green. As in big-time money. Cash. Currency. In fact, $40.5 million worth of the green stuff.
The 25-year-old American League MVP inked a six-year deal with the Red Sox Wednesday.
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein joined Pedroia during the news conference and was beaming that the club will have the spunky player for the long term.
"If we had 25 guys like Dustin, we would be in good shape," Epstein said. "We would not be the Red Sox without him. . . It is something we are thrilled about. This is something we wanted as a club, and Dustin did, too."
The sides were trying to get this deal completed during the summer, but talks were interrupted in August. Talks picked up again in September and finally the sides came to terms on Tuesday.
"He embodies everything we look for in a Red Sox player," Epstein said. "This is a great day for the organization."
Pedroia said he is thrilled with the deal.
"I'm extremely excited," he said. "I definitely wanted to be here for a long time and help the Red Sox win. Today it happened and hopefully for the next six years we can win some championships."
"I play for the best team in the major leagues," said Pedroia. "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."
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