FanNation - The Republic of Sport

    The Boston Red Sox have signed Dustin Pedroia to a six-year, $40.5 million contract (with option for seventh year for $11 million more).  Many Red Sox fans are thrilled with the contract because it keeps the reigning MVP from going anywhere.  Count me among those fans, but for me, I love this deal for another reason: it finally gives the Red Sox some stability at second base.

    Jody Reed, Scott Fletcher, Luis Alicea, Jeff Frye, John Valentin, Mike Benjamin, Jose Offerman, Mike Lansing, Rey Sanchez, Todd Walker, Mark Bellhorn, Tony Graffanino, Mark Loretta. That is thirteen different players who were the Red Sox everyday second baseman at some point in the fifteen seasons prior to Pedroia's arrival as the starter in 2007.  Nobody on that list was the everyday second baseman for more than two consecutive years, although to be fair, Offerman was an everyday player for three years, just not always at second base, and Valentin played at least parts of ten seasons with the Red Sox, but only one of those years was spent at second base.  Even when the Sox had a player who played well -- such as Loretta, an All-Star in his lone year in Boston -- that revolving door of second basemen just kept spinning.

    Even if Pedroia's numbers aren't as good next year, and I wouldn't be shocked if they do drop off a little bit (although I felt the same way after his rookie year), this signing guarantees the revolving door has been replaced with a new one.  This new door looks too small and initially made people worry about whether it could get the job done, but ended up exceeding the expectations of everyone, possibly even the architect who decided to install it.  The Red Sox have finally found a second baseman that is capable of being a cornerstone of the franchise, one who can play at Fenway for the majority, and hopefully the whole, of his career.

    It was eleven years ago that the Red Sox similarly signed another young All-Star middle-infielder to a seven year extension.  This player also won the Rookie of the Year award, and finished highly in the MVP voting in his second season (although only second and not first as Pedroia did).  If Dustin Pedroia can have a run in Boston like Nomar Garciaparra had, then I don't think there is one fan who can complain; although lets hope Pedroia doesn't become injury-prone and paranoid like Nomar did in his last few years in Boston.

    Of course, since Garciaparra was traded, the Red Sox have also gone through a revolving door of shortstops.  Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez, Julio Lugo, and at the end of this past season, Jed Lowrie have each played everyday shortstop for the team since Nomar was traded at the trade deadline in 2004.  That is five shortstops in four-and-a-half seasons.  Since July 31, 2004, the revolving door hasn't just been among second basemen, but among the double-play combinations in the middle infield.  

    Will stability come to the shortstop position any time soon?  Many Red Sox fans, including myself, are skeptical as to whether Lowrie is good enough to be anything more than a utility infielder.  But the skeptics and the doubters have been proven wrong before.  Just ask Pedroia.