Sox to pay Pedroia $40 million over 6 years

Dustin Pedroia has a Rookie of the Year award, an MVP, a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger and, of course, a World Series ring.

And now he's got the big-bucks contract befitting one of the most decorated young players in baseball.

The Boston Red Sox second baseman, who earned $457,000 last season while winning the American League's Most Valuable Player award, agreed Wednesday to a $40.5 million, six-year contract that could keep him in Boston through at least 2014.

"I wanted to be here a long time," Pedroia said at a news conference. "Hopefully in the next six years, we can win some championships."

Heading into his third season in the majors, the 5-foot-9 second baseman already has joined Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryan Howard as the only players to follow a rookie award with an MVP. Pedroia led the AL with 213 hits, 118 runs and 54 doubles while batting .326 with 17 home runs, 83 RBIs 20 stolen bases.

He is the first AL second baseman to win the MVP award since Nellie Fox in 1959 with the Chicago White Sox.

SHORT HOPS: Tampa Bay Rays closer Troy Percival had back surgery this week and is expected to be ready to return to the AL champions before opening day. The 39-year-old right-hander went 2-1 with a 4.53 ERA and a team-leading 28 saves but missed 42 games while spending three stints on the disabled list because of hamstring and knee injuries.

* The San Francisco Giants took another step to bolster their bullpen, agreeing a $2.75 million, one-year contract with free-agent reliever Bobby Howry.

* Free agent Russell Branyan and the Seattle Mariners agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract.

* Oft-injured Mike Hampton finalized a one-year, $2 million deal with the Houston Astros, hoping to resurrect his career in the place he became a prominent big league pitcher.