The Red Sox deliver an early Christmas present in 2018

3 of 8

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Steve Pearce #25 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his eighth-inning home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The trade for Steve Pearce

Much like with the signing of J.D. Martinez, the ramifications of this deal were felt damn near instantly. Steve Pearce had been a journeyman in his career having played for every team in the AL East. Pearce’s father is from New England and Steve grew up a Red Sox fan, he had finally come home.

His impact on this team can’t truly be measured. The way he would grind each and every day, no matter what role he was asked to do. His ability to pump his teammates up and get the morale up in the dugout on a moments notice. And not to mention that multi-homer game against the Yankees. He instantly won over the hearts of the Fenway Faithful with that series of at-bats.

Pearce would be a constant consistent in the Red Sox success. Much like Betts or Martinez, when he was on, big things happened, and when he wasn’t they could stagnate. Steve would go on a ridiculous run through September and into October where he did his biggest damage.

It seemed like everytime Pearce was at the plate he found a way to get on base by any means necessary. Not to mention the home run derby he had throughout the ALCS and World Series. He got hot at the right time, especially as Betts and Martinez cooled off, and it paid dividends.

Pearce would be named the World Series MVP and also get rewarded by the Red Sox with a new one-year $6.25 million deal. Not bad for a journeyman.

Home/Red Sox News