Eric Sorenson
Since the Arizona Diamondbacks re-shuffled their front office towards the end of last season the focus has been clear.
Surround the organization with winners.
Tony La Russa, Dave Stewart, Chip Hale and others have changed the culture on and off the field and are hoping a strong finish to 2015 will carry momentum into the winter and next spring. One “piece” which could make sense to add is Boston Red Sox All-Star and former Arizona State All-American Dustin Pedroia.
“I think [Arizona] is one of the spots where Pedroia might be willing to waive his no-trade clause,” ESPN baseball insider Pedro Gomez told Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat in a recent interview. “He lives in Chandler and his wife and young kids are a very close-knit family…if it came to it, you might see him say, ‘I might be willing to do something.'”
The potential process could be expedited if the Red Sox choose to remodel their roster after what has turned into a nightmare year. Boston presently sits dead-last in the American League East heading down the home stretch of the season.
Pedroia is under contract through the 2021 season and is owed $84 million on the remainder of the deal after this year.
“It’s high but it’s not outrageous,” Gomez said of the deal. “He is a winning-type ballplayer who brings a lot…Chip Hale would love to have him. He’s a guy who is a policeman in the clubhouse…when players are policing the clubhouse that is when you get a lot of winning ball clubs…Pedroia has always been that kind of guy.”
Gomez believes Arizona won’t mortgage their future if the four-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner is willing to waive his full no-trade clause. The price tag in return may not be too steep if the Red Sox are looking to shed salary this winter.
The 32-year-old won the AL MVP in 2008 and two World Series (2007, 2013) with Boston. He was a second-round selection of the organization back in 2004.
