Daily Red Sox Links: Dustin Pedroia, Mike Trout, Jerry Sands

We'll start off with your must-read of the day. The MVP was just announced and, no shock, Miguel Cabrera won it over Mike Trout. Objectively there isn't much argument for Cabrera over Trout, which isn't to take anything away from the amazing season Cabrera put up, just that it wasn't as good as Trout's. Still though, Cabrera won. Good job as usual, BBWA! Still, Red Sox fans who are also fans of facts should be proud that of the relatively few Trout voters (at least) one came from the Red Sox beat: our own Tim Britton. In an excellent piece combining humor with information and a studiousness that was lacking from most of the voters (I know because most of the voters voted for Cabrera), Mr. Britton goes over his ballot from head to toe, and explains his entire thought-process. Honestly it's riveting. (Tim Britton; The Providence Journal)

The intersection of humor and good baseball writing goes right through Grant Brisbee's kitchen. There is no better example of this basic truth than this piece he did on the MVP voting and the need to shun and even actively eradicate Cabrera voters from our lives. (Grant Brisbee; Baseball Nation)

Final MVP article: minor celebrity and former baseball blogger Nate Silver returns to his roots (somewhat) with a statistical analysis of the AL MVP race. (Nate Silver; The New York Times' 538 Blog)

Could Jerry Sands turn out to be more than just a spare part, a throw-in return in a salary dump? That's a definite maybe! (Alex Speier; WEEI.com)

In addition to making trades and signing free agents to shore up the team's roster for the 2013 season, the Boston Red Sox are looking into extending a current player's contract in order to keep him in Boston longer. That player is Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia's current deal isn't up for another three seasons assuming the Red Sox exercise his $11 million team option in 2015, something that at least right now looks like virtual certainty. But even though there is still significant time left on his current deal there are some good reasons to extend Pedroia's contract now. (Joe MacDonald; ESPN Boston)

Sam Miller takes a look (literally, as there are lots of GIFs) at the best slides of the past season. Another in a long line of awesome pieces by Mr. Miller. (Sam Miller; Baseball Prospectus) ($$)

The Red Sox have signed former minor league pitcher and recent Japanese Leaguer Terry Doyle to a minor league contract. Sox Prospects has the details. (Chris Hatfield; Sox Prospects)

What would your team look like if you built it entirely out of this year's free agent crop? I took a stab at answering this stupid question. Why? Because the truth is its own reward. (Matt Kory; Baseball Prospectus) ($$)