The Red Sox have announced a deal to keep sluggeer Steve Pearce in Boston, as Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported (via Twitter). It’s said to be a one-year, $6.25MM pact for the Excel Sports Management client.
Pearce, 35, was picked up in a relatively unheralded late-June swap with the Blue Jays. He more or less took the role that had been played by Hanley Ramirez to open the year, and ended up delivering more value than the Sox probably anticipated.
By the end of the 2018 regular season, Pearce had compiled an excellent .284/.378/.512 batting line and 11 home runs over 251 total plate appearances. He bettered that in the postseason, turning in a 1.083 OPS in 47 plate appearances and ultimately taking home World Series MVP honors owing to some timely long balls.
Pearce did not fully establish himself in the big leagues until he had passed his thirtieth birthday. Since then, though, he has mostly been an excellent offensive producer — at least, when healthy. Rather surprisingly, Pearce has still yet to take even 400 plate appearances in a given season.
It seems clear that the Red Sox will continue to seek to get Pearce’s bat whenever possible against left-handed pitching. While he has historically been a solid hitter even without the platoon advantage, Pearce has bombed opposing southpaws.
Odds are, Pearce will see most of his time by sharing the action at first base with Mitch Moreland. He could also pick up some time in the DH slot when J.D. Martinez steps into the outfield or gets a rest. And it’s certainly possible that Pearce could see some time at other spots around the diamond as well. He has experience in the corner outfield as well as second and third base, though surely he won’t be seen as the best-defending option at those spots.
This move likely forecloses some other conceivable avenues to boosting the Red Sox offense — not that it needs it, or that Pearce won’t suffice. That said, the club still has some potential uncertainty at second and perhaps even third base, though it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see the organization decide to rely upon existing options there. Otherwise, Dave Dombrowski and co. will presumably dedicate most of their offseason energy to pursuing improvements behind the plate and on the mound — and, perhaps, trying to gain traction on contract talks with a few current stars.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
LETS GOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty expensive for a bench player that is on the short side of a platoon no?
that bench player also was very good in the field. So yes, if a team wants him back before he entertains other offers then you pay the man.
Don’t hate the deal but that being good in the field is strictly limited to 1b.
and isn’t that not a position that the Sox need to fill/backup Moreland? I believe most player are limited to one position..
Not true. Most utility infielders, which Pearce is, can play the whole infield.
Most utility hitters are not nearly as good as the bat as is Pearce either.
Quit nit picking everything Boston does and worry about ur yankees why don’t u??
What other “utility infielders” have been the World Series MVP? I will wait.
Pearce isn’t anything but a 1B/DH these days, his outfield play was horrendous and with him constantly being hurt, probably bad for his overall health.
Slamming into walls isn’t good for anyone, especially for a guy who’s had trouble staying healthy.
His bat is great though! Stay healthy Steve!
Ben Zobrist
Davids Freese and Eckstein, recently.
What’s with you guys, jeeze? A guy said he played good D, and I simply stated the fact that he’s a utility player who is limited to one position. I even said I liked the deal. I don’t really care if he’s the only utility player to ever win a WS mvp, which I don’t k is is true. It doesnt negate the fact he’s limited to one position. Get worked up about something more important, guys.
Ye Gods, please don’t make misleading statements. Yes, both Freese and Eckstein won WS MVPs, but neither was anything close to a “utility player”. Eckstein hardly missed a game in 2002 and made nearly every start (except for 3 half-rest days at DH) at SS. Freese, meanwhile, was St. Louis’s everyday 3Bman, and only didn’t play all season due to missing 50 games with a broken hand. Both were everyday starters.
Sandoval
Sorry, couldn’t resist. Lol
He only played 11 games in the OF this year, but he played 85 in the OF last year. I’m sure they could put him out there on occasion without him killing them.
He’s not a utility player
…he’s a platoon player.. with Mitch Moreland.. combine both of their yearly Productions and their yearly salaries and you’ll find your exactly where you want to be for that position.. it also allows you with either one of them, a well-above-average pinch-hitter when the matchup dictates and then they will enter the game at the 1st base position
Not monetarily expensive when you combine production with Moreland. Is however costly clogging up two of 13 everyday roster players in world of today’s 12 man pitching staff. Would love to see the Sox carry only 11 the entire year but to do that you need more out of your starters which likely isn’t happening.
Good signing for them
As has been true for decades now, everybody looks a little more expensive than “expected” as salaries rise. Also, Pearce clearly isn’t intended to be a “bench” player, but rather a “half the time” starter or so. He’ll play every game against LHPs and many games against RHPs, if he’s healthy.
Clearly a reactionary move by the team. Guy has literally been released by every team in the east, and multiple times by a few. He was given regular at bats with Baltimore and Toronto and did nothing. Guy is a bench player who can thrive in spurts, but severely limits a bench seeing he is only decent at one position.
Congrats to him for cashing in on a few weeks of production. Red Sox would have been better off letting him go somewhere else and trading for him again in July.
Pearce did enough in the past to sign a $6M contract in 2016, and then a $12M deal for 2017-2018.
Did he “cash in” by playing well since going to Boston, and then winning the WS MVP? Of course. But your comment makes it sound like they gave him a $25M deal.
Exactly.. it’s not an over-reaction to pay a guy pretty much the same thing he’s made for the last 3 seasons and only guaranteeing it for one.. and have a professional pinch hitter on the days he’s not starting at first base this is the kind of move that winning teams make this is the type of player a winning team can pull off the bench where other teams have him in their starting lineup every day.. that does not work.. he’s not that kind of player..but he is a 300AB. 275avg. 12Hr guy..that is well worth $6M
Everyone seems to be forgetting an ability that Steve Pearce has that every Sox fan loves- HE’S A YANKEE KILLER!!!
Happy he’s back
Awesome!!
Seems perfectly suited to being a quality veteran role-player. Smart re-sign.
Great combo with Moreland.
He’s clutch.
Good for both, Pearce and the team.
Now that’s a great move and he deserves it!!
Smash those homers! Dispatch thine enemy!
MVP
Indeed a good signing. Yankmee killer.
Scrub
great one-word summary on your life hence why Pierce getting paid for his role.
You spelled World Series MVP wrong.
We’re getting the band back together!
BV. Full band isn’t realistic but let’s how they play next year. Impossible to get better music out of this band of characters but the team won’t likely need another 119 total wins for another duck boat parade.
Worked so well for 2014 lol.
Trollin’, we loved Pearce in Toronto but man he couldn’t stay healthy and putting him in the outfield at his age was just bad for his health as he hurt himself at least 4 times trying to catch things and banging into the outfield walls.
They’re on a mission from God
He is a fan favorite for sure, good luck STEVE in 2019 and thanks for 2018!
What a bargain for WS MVP.
SWEET! Welcome Back Piercey!
Great to have Pearce back. He thrived in Boston and I like the 1B platoon. Moreland seems a little exposed as an everyday first baseman.
Now let’s bring back Eovaldi and fightin’ Joe K!
No such thing as a bad one-year deal. One year $6.25M is nothing to MLB clubs, this day and age, In addition to playoffs, vividly remember this guy killing NYY. Pearce had 3 home runs, 6 RBI in one game against us last year
I will never understand anyone ripping a one year deal, even Chris Carter. This is a no-brainer for Boston.
Proper choice by Pearce to return to such a well-suited role.
Pierce and Moreland both want to play in Boston. Of course money usually talks but it’s refreshing when their signature on the contract early (Moreland last year, Pierce this season) into free agency backs up their words.
Kudos to the Red Sox organization. That’s a thoughtful World Series bonus for sure.
Phenomenal
Great move keeping Pearce.
Does anyone out there know how bad it is to go over the luxury tax threshold?
The reason why I ask is that I would like to see the Red Sox keep Kimbrel and Eovaldi and they are both projected to get a contract with and AAV of $15 – 17.5M.
This would likely put the Red Sox over the threshold.
Does anyone out there know if they can pay Dustin Pedroia his $15+M contract, in 2018, in a way that gets him of of the books in 2018?
Thanks
The luxury tax threshold is not an issue with the Sox
Pedroia money is not recoverable. I had been thinking all along that Kimbrel would be resigned but the emergence of Eovaldi has changed my views. I see only one of the two coming back, preferably Nathan (with a small chance they also resign Kelly). Not sure which way Kelly goes. His arm is as good as Eovaldi ‘s and without the injury baggage. Maybe he just needed confidence. Hope so.
Yup, best case on Pedroia is that he packs it in during/after next season. Those knees are completely shot. I love what he’s meant to the team, but just being honest here.
I also think they are much more likely to sign Eovaldi than Kimbrel. Kimbrel is getting the Papelbon treatment and they will look elsewhere to fill that role(Britton? Robertson? Miller?).
Kelly earned himself a big raise, but it won’t be from the Sox. He was always too erratic and he can be replaced in several other ways.
I was worried on whether or not Kelly was going to get a playoff shot. His enemy has basically been himself, his wildness and walks. If they believe he matured at the right time, he’s a better moving forward option than Miller given Miller’s injuries, recent heavy usage and expected cost. The team does need a lefty in the pen but I expect their money will be spent on Eovaldi and hopefully Kelly. The lefty will be a cheaper find or trade.
2018 is over. In 2019 The only way they can lessen the impact of pedroia’s money is to get a deal that is longer in length but similar in dollar figures to lower the AAV. Or conversely they could dump pedroia for most likely two bad one year contracts and clear the salary hit for the future.
He has a full no-trade clause as a 10-and-5 player, so any trades would have to be approved by him.
I doubt Pedroia would approve a trade. I hope he doesn’t, been there since 2006, I always like to see players stay and retire with one team. Pedroia in a different uniform would just be wrong.
Pedroia isn’t going anywhere. He can barely play at all. No team is taking him on at this point. His next step is to get bought out and retire.
Thanks. I meant to say 2019 for Pedroia. I was mainly concerned with 2019 as 2020 and beyond look better for the luxury tax threshold based upon Cot’s projected 2020 payroll and beyond.
I like your idea about extending Pedroia’s contract, to more years assuming he agrees, to get the $40M they still owe him spread over as many years as they can to lower his AAV in 2019. Don’t know if the players union would object?
Otherwise in order to keep Kimbrel and Eovaldi they most likely will have to pay a substantial penalty. But both of those players are definately worth keeping.
This team can repeat if they do that.
Kimbrel has turned down $17.9M/1yr. offer so Sox will get a draft pick when he signs elsewhere.
Yes, but I would rather have Kimbrel than a draft pick.
Trade Rumors projects Kimbrel to get 4yrs/$70M so I say the Red Sox should keep Kimbrel and Eovaldi who Trade Rumors projects to get 4 yrs/$60M.
The only issue is will they pay that?
Both Kimbrel and Eovaldi are great players and the Red Sox can repeat as champs with both of them back.
I think Pedrioa and his agent would object… unless management offered him more money with those extra years.
As far as the luxury tax is concerned… the Sox are already above it for 2019, I think they may look to 2020 to try getting under the limit to reset the tax percentage.
Problem is you’re looking at a $250M payroll with those two signings… which you could say fine for next year – but it hurts their chances at affording upcoming free agents these next couple of years by signing both these guys.
If you could sign ONE of these two… which would you pick?
From reading the comments above many seem to think yes they can afford both Kimbrel and Eovaldi maybe even Kelley as well.
Many seem to think the luxury tax is not important to the Red Sox.
If you look at Cots Baseball Contracts 2020 and beyond shows a real drop off in guaranteed money contracts.
Since all of their “young” talent comes to free agency in 2020 and beyond then it’s really only 2019 that poses the problem of cost.
They can win again with this team intact and I think it’s worth it to pay to keep it intact.
And also they will make the money back with TV rights and hopefully post season TV rights.
But I’ll leave this up to DD, LaRussa and Cora to make those decisions.
I’m just expressing that I would love to also see Kimbrel, Eovaldi and Kelley back in 2020 and hopefully beyond.
This is a fantastic team, the best Red Sox team I’ve seen in my lifetime and I’m 66.
I hope they can keep these guys together.
They are a special team.
Can you extend an existing contract and reset AAV? These comments sound like you can just take remainder and add a few years and it’s new.
I believe it will be the total which makes it much less. Love Pedoria…he should and will retire a Sox
You are right that they can win again with the same group. I just wouldn’t expect them to keep everyone. Kimbrel was a high-wire act at the end of the year. I’m not sure he’s the guy you pay top dollar over the next 4+ seasons. We might have already seen his best.
As for Eovaldi, he’s obviously a fan favorite(and he’s earned it), but he also has a terrifying injury history. 2 TJ surgeries?? I’m not sure you throw a long-term commitment(and huge money) at a guy like that. There are lots of ways to allocate the $30+M that these guys stand to make next year. We’ll see what they come up with.
The pick will be very low and not likely impactful.
The payroll becomes important because I believe the penalty % increases each year and they need to budget for Mookie after 2020.
Kimbrel is a goner. They are going to allocate his funds to 2 pitchers in 2019.
They will also blow through the luxury tax in 2019 and look to get back under in 2020.
The lux tax goes in 3 stages. The Sox didn’t go over the third stage until late in the season last year. Nobody can say right now because there are so many things left to do right now. I’m not sure if last year was their 1st or 2nd consecutive year but for the sake of argument let’s call it the second. I believe if they reach the highest bracket… 246/47 they will pay 95% on the overidge. Mind you it’s just on that part… lower for other levels. That’s a lot of words for … if the contracts are not bad then it really doesn’t matter
The Red Sox reset their lux tax penalties in 2017 which is why they were willing to go over in 2018. The Red Sox will almost certainly be over again this year and probably close to the highest level then it would be two years in a row.
They could get Pedroia or anyone off the books at their will by paying off the contract in full like Sandoval or non-tendering the player al a Allen Craig. Of course neither of these things will happen with Pedroia for many reasons, not the least of which is that there is no reason to believe he won’t get healthy and produce again.
It doesn’t come off the books it still counts towards the lux tax even if you if release a player which is why Sandoval still counts towards the lux tax even though he is no longer with the team.
Solid move
Real happy with this signing. He fits in real well with Moreland.
I’ve read here that the BoSox have a weak Minor League system. I’m not sure what that means if they can bring up 3 players per year. The Sox are one of the few teams that don’t need anything right now. Still, 3B Bobby Dalbec needs to be called up soon. If Dustin Pedroia is not able to return to health, IF Chad De La Gurerra should get a look. IF Jonathan Ortega could be fast-tracked. SP Denyi Reyes looks like he’s going to be part of the future too.
The Red Sox do have a weak system. What do you mean by bring up? As meaningful regulars? Ortega just got drafted in 2018–he is most likely years away from sniffing the majors. Sure, any team can “bring up” players. The question is, are they going to contribute positively?
They absolutely are weak in minors. Price you pay sometimes for kicking arse up top
Boston’s system is in the “reloading” portion of the cycle that most teams go through. It previously had a period like this that built into the team having one of the best systems in the game, then it used that excellence to build the core of this team and trade for much of the rest. Now it has to re-stock the cupboard, nothing unusual there.
Eh, this is fine. I expect most of y’all will be pretty disappointed when he’s hitting just .230 at the all-star break next year. But it’s a cheap signing and we can always find an upgrade later.
To be honest, if he hits .188 in the regular season but puts up a 1.083 OPS in the postseason, it’s money well spent.
Need to make the post season first!
I’ll go with “they have a decent chance” for now… Far nicer than, “Really? You have to make the postseason before you can play in it?”
Unless he or Moreland get injured, he should hit just fine. Remember a true platoon hides the player’s inability to hit same side pitching.
Solid move. Nice bat, reasonable money for a Boston type payroll.
Nice. He and Mitch Moreland are a great pairing.
Pearce is a quality player, wish the Orioles had held on to him.
Nice player big overpay.
Pearce/Moreland combo will give Bo Sox 30 hrs.-100 rbi-.260 ba plus solid defense in 2019. All for about $13M. total. Good deal if you ask me…
Exactly. It’s a perfect platoon that will actually produce.
As for Dustin Pedroia, his knees seem to be shot so he may be forced to retire. If so, one option to replace him will be Marco Hernandez who has been DL’d since 2017 for shoulder injury requiring surgery. He is my pick for a spring surprise in Ft. Myers as he played solid defense and showed he could hit when healthy. Plus he is now only 26.
Brock Holt can play 2nd base.
They can also pick up a platoon right handed hitter for lefties like Brandon Phillips.
In a pinch Mookie Betts can play 2nd base if necessary.
But Marco Hernandez may work as a platoon as well.
And let’s not forget Nunez who also can play 2nd.
Nunez at second? Ugh. But I do like Holt/Hernandez if for some reason Pedrioa can’t play there next year.
Yes, Nunez is not the best defensively at 2nd I agree.
But he can play the position.
Hernandez and Holt both hit left handed making them an unlikely platoon. Besides, Hernandez hasn’t played for longer than Pedroia and has never established himself as a major leaguer, so if I had to bet on one of them playing a big role for the Sox next season it’s an easy choice. Between Holt and Nunez I’m confident 2b won’t be a black hole regardless.
Stick a fork in Pedie.
Yes, sad to say Pedie may be done.
Knee microsurgery is hard to come back from especially the way Pedie plays.
Pedie’s only hope may be as a DH and have him run the bases carefully.
That is bound to be a problem for Pedie as he is a true competitor.
Like a friend says, he’s surprised Pedie doesn’t have more problems as hard as he swings every time.
I say Pedie slots right into where Bobby Doerr left off.
Outstanding signing. And I love that pic. What an amazing moment.
Good fielder, still solid bat, great under pressure, and quality clubhouse guy. Miss him in Toronto but glad he’s got a good gig.
World Series MVP – he deserves it, though I really thought he earned a 2-year deal.
If DD even ATTEMPTED to trade Pedroia, he’d find himself in the Charles River. Ain’t never happening. Red Sox Nation likes DD, but Dustin has achieved Big Sloppy-type sainthood.
Ownership doesn’t care about Luxury Taxes. During those years they finished last, NESN (their RSN, 80% owned) viewership fell off the cliff. Surprise; even the loyalists don’t want to watch a lousy team. NESN generates about 400M in annual revenues, and that’s what they ADMIT they make. Really, in Boston, it’s all about NESN.
I expect they’ll let Kimbrell and Kelly walk,, but they’ll fill the slots with equally (or higher) priced talent.
If DD even ATTEMPTED to trade Pedroia…he would quickly find that nobody wanted him.
…that is completely true……
Of course Pedie has no value but it’s meaningless as he’ retiring as a Sox whenever that will be. I’m not expecting anything from him but would it really surprise any Sox fan if he found a way to play 75 games? Remember he hit under .200 as a rookie and most of us fans had no idea why he was given the job in the first place. Imagine how good Manny Machado would be if he played the game like Pedie.
Do not count Pedroia out yet. I would not bet against him contributing next year.
No, I’d never count Pedie out.
He is a class act and if anybody can come back from micro-fracture knee surgery it’s Pedie.
I completely agree I think he’ll contribute maybe a little overpaid but that’s fine given they can afford it and nobody is taking his contract.
They will and should limit his games in the field maybe a few more at bats @ dh.
Cartilage replacement surgery
I like the signing though I do agree it does seem a little bit higher ($) than I expected… but I guess a WS will do that to a career journey man’s value. To be perfectly honest though… I’d like it a lot more without Moreland in the picture. I know I know all the metrics on his fielding and that he has strong periods of offensive output BUT I hope that the end result of this is that it’s more of a 50/50 split rather than Moreland playing against EVERY RH pitcher. Because I honestly believe Pearce is the better hitter vs RH or LH and Moreland is kind of the odd man out despite his $7.5M salary. Either way the Sox can obviously afford the duo and given the lack of true “impact 1B currently in the game in general” (see Moreland being and AS…) it makes sense for the Sox to lock him up before someone else swoops in and woo’s him away. Good call by Dombrowski and Co to keep him in board.
It’s the same money Pearce made last year. No pay raise. Did you expect him to take a pay cut?