PRO BASEBALL

World Series MVP Pearce stays with Red Sox for $6.25M

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BOSTON (AP) - World Series MVP Steve Pearce is staying with the Red Sox.

The journeyman first baseman agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract with Boston on Friday.

The 35-year-old Pearce was a free agent after completing a $12.5 million, two-year deal that he got from Toronto in December 2016. He earned an additional $150,000 bonus for his selection as World Series MVP. His new deal also includes award bonuses.

"We're thrilled to have Steve back with us for another year as we think he's a great fit for our club," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said in a statement. "Obviously, we all saw what kind of impact he can have on the field, especially with the postseason that he had. He also provides good depth and balance from the right side for us."

A major league nomad of 12 teams, Pearce was traded to Boston in late June. He played 50 games for the Red Sox, hitting five home runs against the New York Yankees, including three on Aug. 2.

He made his biggest impact in the postseason, batting .289 with four home runs and 11 RBIs. He went deep in Game 4 of the World Series and connected two more times in the Game 5 finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He reached base in each of his 12 postseason games.

Pearce called this past season a dream.

"You never know where the game will take you," he said after Boston's World Series victory last month. "And I've gone through a lot in my life or in my career to be here, and I couldn't be more thankful."