While the truth may be out there, it's awash with a sea of misinformation deeper than any Mulder and Scully had to wade through.
Buster Olney provides the latest fodder for the Red Sox rumor mill in his links column on ESPN Insider.
What is Dustin Pedroia's Spanish nickname and what does it mean?
Here's a recap of Dustin Pedroia's press conference announcing his new 6 year contract extension with the Sox (video after the jump).
There's been a common trend throughout Major League Baseball for teams to lock up their young talent early giving them more front loaded money in longer term deals, while effectively buying potential free agent years at a discount. This strategy allows a team to lock in young talent at reasonable annual dollar amounts over the long term. In Boston, you might say "they just "Nomar-ed" him into a long term deal".
While most teams have taken this strategy against players they have a "high degree of confidence" will be above average players over the life of the deal (i.e. Evan Longoria or Troy Tulowitzki), the Red Sox have the luxury of extending such an offer to the reigning American League MVP, Dustin Pedroia.
Thanks to a six year, $40.5 million dollar contract extension that will be formally announced at a 3 pm press conference today, Dustin Pedroia will be manning second base at Fenway Park for the foreseeable future. The contract, which has been in negotiation since mid-August, includes both a $1.5 million dollar signing bonus and a club option for the seventh year at $11 million dollars ($500,000 team buyout).
Peter Gammons stops by Fire Brand to answer a few questions. He cautions not to write off David Ortiz and muses about an Eric Byrnes and Miguel Montero to Boston trade.
In this week's Fireside Chats podcast, Tim and Paul celebrate the coronation of Dustin Pedroia: AL MVP, look at what the trade of Coco Crisp to the Royals may signify, and talk over a hot stove.
Dustin Pedroia has been named the 2008 American League MVP after being a force in every aspect of the game. His ferocious hitting, determined fielding and high character spurned Boston to within one game of the World Series.
Pedroia, 24, arguably had a better year than his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2007. He hit .326/.376/.493 with 17 HR, 118 R and 83 RBI in 653 at-bats.
Dustin Pedroia, the diminutive second baseman of the Boston Red Sox, notched his first Gold Glove Award today. It was the only Gold Glove a Red Sox player won, a year after Kevin Youkilis took home the hardware.
Bill James has come out with his new handbook for 2009, and in the handbook are the early statistical projections for players next year. This may be especially significant in the case of the Red Sox, as James has a vast amount of knowledge of players in the Red Sox system due to being employed by the team.
Some of the biggest signings that the Boston Red Sox make this offseason might not have anything to do with new faces set to make a splash in Boston. The biggest signings to happen, or "not" to happen, may be with some more familiar faces (and no, this isn't a sign Derek Lowe and take a flyer on Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling post).
I'll throw out a few names for you; Jason Bay, Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester.
While each of these players is currently "under team control" for next season and in most cases beyond, each could pen to paper on a new contract this offseason. At the same time, each enters their respective negotiations with their teams under slightly different circumstances.