Pearce says it’s ‘no-brainer’ to stay in Boston
Playoff hero, veteran credits team chemistry for the great success of the 2018 Red Sox
BOSTON — World Series MVP Steve Pearce says it was a “nobrainer” to return to the Boston Red Sox for another year.
“This was the place that I wanted to be,” he said on a conference call Monday, three days after agreeing to a US$6.5-million, one-year deal with the defending Major League Baseball champions. “The chemistry we had on and off the field, wanting to defend a title, that’s a big deal.”
A 35-year-old journeyman who has played for seven teams — including the entire American League East — in a 12-year career, Pearce arrived in Boston at the end of June and spent most of his time with the Red Sox platooning at first base with Mitch Moreland.
Pearce batted .279 in 50 games for Boston in the regular season, hitting seven homers — five of them against the New York Yankees. In five World Series games against the L.A. Dodgers, he batted .333 with three homers, two of them in the Game 5 clincher, to earn most valuable player honours.
“The team I was on, everything that was done there, bringing everybody back, it was a nobrainer for me,” Pearce said. “We just played different. It was great chemistry on this team, it’s where I wanted to play.”
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said he is glad to have Pearce and Moreland back for another year. Moreland is also scheduled to make $6.5 million next season, when he will turn 34.
“We like where we are with Mitch and Steve at first base,” Dombrowski said when asked if the team considered a multiyear deal for Pearce. “We really felt for us, where we are as an organization, where they are in their careers, we really did want to hold it to one year.”
Also Monday, Dombrowski said second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who missed all but three games last season with a knee injury, is not expected to need surgery. The 2008 AL MVP will rehab through the middle of December and start running in January.
“We’re hopeful he’ll be ready for the season,” Dombrowski said, adding that the plan meant the team probably won’t have room for Ian Kinsler to return.