Pedroia voted AL's best

Boston Red Sox little man Dustin Pedroia won the American League MVP award Tuesday, becoming the first second baseman to earn the honor in nearly a half-century.

Pedroia easily beat out Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau and added to his ever-expanding trophy case. Generously listed at 5 feet 9, Pedroia was the top AL rookie last year while winning a World Series ring.

Nellie Fox was the last second baseman to become AL MVP, in 1959 with the Chicago White Sox.

Pedroia drew 16 of the 28 first-place votes cast by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America and finished with 317 points.

Pedroia led the AL in hits, runs and doubles in helping the Red Sox win the AL wild-card berth. He batted .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs and also stole 20 bases.

DEMPSTER AND CUBS AGREE TO $52 MILLION DEAL: Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed Tuesday on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option for 2012.

He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million.

Dempster was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for the Cubs this past season.

WAKAMATSU TO BE MARINERS SKIPPER: The Seattle Mariners picked Don Wakamatsu as their new manager, giving the job to Oakland's bench coach and filling the only opening in the majors.

Wakamatsu was chosen Tuesday over several other candidates, according to The Associated Press.

PIMA COUNTY ACCEPTS $5 MILLION WHITE SOX BUYOUT: Pima County's supervisors voted 5-0 on Tuesday to allow the Chicago White Sox to end their spring training contract with the Arizona county so they can move immediately to the Phoenix suburb of Glendale.

RIPKEN'S BASEBALL CLINIC CUT SHORT: Cal Ripken Jr.'s baseball clinic for Nicaraguan youth was canceled by its sponsors Tuesday because protests surrounding local election results were hindering travel.

GRIFFEY BECOMES AMERICAN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ENVOY: Ken Griffey Jr. became the newest American Public Diplomacy Envoy, introduced Tuesday by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.