Nobody -- not one person -- was bringing up a rarely-mentioned clause in Dustin Pedroia's contract throughout those first two months of the 2011 season. The reason? He was hitting .239 on June 4, 56 games into his fifth full big league season. 

Diving into the scenario where Pedroia's base salary for 2014 and '15 would increase by $2 million each season didn't seem like a priority. He would, after all, have to win another American League Most Valuable Player Award sometime before the end of the '13 campaign to garner such riches.

Judging by how difficult it was for Pedroia to win the honor back in '08, and the path he had found himself on through one-third of this season, such analysis seemed unnecessary.

"I think that is just the way our job is, people can just talk and say whatever they want," he recently said while taking up residence in his usual pre-game spot in the Red Sox' Fenway Park dugout. "In reality it is 162 games and at the end of the year everyone is where they are."

And that is why, as we sit here, all aspects of Pedroia's existence should be dissected. He has earned that right, along with a realistic chance to earn the extra cash.

It is a unique contract for a very unique player.

THE CLAUSE

At the time Pedroia signed his current deal, following the '08 season, no player in baseball had an escalator like the second baseman's MVP bonus. Whether it was because the Red Sox believed the odds of a player like the 27-year-old could once again claim the award -- usually reserved for run-producing types -- or if it was a simple act of good faith, such clauses were hardly the norm.

The second-highest MVP bonus for a Red Sox player, for instance, are owned by Josh Beckett and John Lackey ($500,000), with David Ortiz, Marco Scutaro, J.D. Drew, Jason Varitek and Carl Crawford having the potential to claim $200,000 for winning the award.

Since the deal was struck, others have surpassed Pedroia's benchmark, with Derek Jeter having the chance to increase his '14 player option by $4 million if he wins an MVP. Troy Tulowitzki can also watch his '20 salary bump up by $6 million if he wins the National League MVP in '19, while having the chance to get a $3 million increase just by finishing second or third in '19.

But the one who has a real chance of cashing in sooner rather than later is Pedroia (whether he likes it or not).

"I actually don't like it in my contract," said Pedroia, who can also garner escalators of $1 million for '14 and '15 if he finishes second or third in the MVP voting. "I think it is great for the All-Star bonuses and stuff like that. I mean, I think it's great, but that is not why I am playing. I am playing to help us win the World Series. I don't care about everything else."

And that is exactly why Pedroia has found himself living the life usually reserved for the home run-hitting types always brought to the surface of the MVP argument.

In many ways the second baseman is out-performing his '08 season to this point, totaling a better on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, with more walks, stolen bases and home runs than at the same point during Pedroia's MVP campaign.

The challenge this time around will be a more robust group in contention for the MVP award than there was three seasons before. While Pedroia is on pace to reach career highs at almost every turn, other than his second-best WAR (wins above replacement) rating, he isn't better than fifth in the AL in any one category.

"I don't really think about it," said Pedroia of the MVP chase. "My job, I am supposed to do all the small things to help the baseball team win. I am not the type of guy that is going to hit 30 home runs and drive in 120. That is not my game. My game is to get on base, score runs, play great defense, do the little things to help us win. I think whatever numbers I've put up each year does not reflect how I've helped the team. That is not the value of me as a player for my team. I try and do other things that help us win."

THE CONTRACT

Pedroia has earned the right to not worry about such frivolous items as MVP debate, or even statistical comparisons that accompany any season. It is a luxury that was set in motion by a contract extension that had previously eluded players such as the second baseman.

The actual beginnings of Pedroia's security began in May, 2008, just one month into his second full major league season. It was after three comparable second baseman -- Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler and Aaron Hill -- had all opted for peace of mind in exchange for the buying out of the beginning of free agency.

Cano's deal bought out his four arbitration years, finishing with two club options for '12 ($14 million) and '13 ($15 million), which would be his first two free agent years. The total guaranteed money for the second baseman -- who was coming off an '07 season in which he hit 19 homers, totaled 97 RBI and a .306 batting average -- was for $31 million.

Kinsler's deal, which was signed one year before he became arbitration eligible, was for five years with one team option. He would be guaranteed $22 million, with two free agent years bought out (topping out with a club option of $10 million in '13).

Then came the aberration -- Hill's deal.

The Toronto second baseman's deal ruined any momentum the position gained contract-wise by the Cano and Kinsler deals when Hill signed a deal that bought out one non-arbitration year and three arbitration years before giving way to team options for three would-be free agent seasons. The total guaranteed money? Just $13 million.

That presented a challenge in the case of Pedroia.

It took three months of negotiations, with the Hill deal somewhat complicating matters, but the Red Sox second baseman was able to get the position's dollar value heading in the direction it was going thanks to Cano and Kinsler. What Pedroia agreed to was this:

- Six years, plus one team option

- Buying out one non-arbitration year, three arbitration years and two free agent seasons ($10 million in '13 and '14)

- Guaranteed money is $40.5 million

- Club option for '15 is for $11 million and can be voided if Pedroia is traded

It was the first sign -- even before being named AL MVP -- Pedroia had entered the world of the giants. The stature, power numbers, and spot in the batting order didn't matter. He was not only being comped to the best young second baseman, but to the best young players … period.

For instance, power-hitting outfielder Ryan Braun -- the other Rookie of the Year in '07 -- inked an eight-year deal after that first season that guaranteed him $45 million over eight years (buying out two free agent years). Pedroia hadn't hit 34 homers, but he did have a contract that compared to somebody who had.

He has now earned the right not to worry about matching up with the big boys. He's already one of them … $2 million or no $2 million.

"You come out and play," Pedroia said. "My job is to come out here and play everyday and help us win. Producing, that's what I try and do and what I've tried to do my whole life."