TORONTO -- In case anybody needed a reminder, Dustin Pedroia has offered one in the Red Sox' first six games. 

On a team desperately looking for value, he has shown there are few more valuable than the second baseman. On a team searching for an identity, Pedroia is trying to hand it one.

As an example -- Pedroia has made six plate appearances in the ninth inning or in extra innings, and has reached base each time (four hits, two walks). He is the one to thank for initiating most of the Red Sox' early-season comebacks. There is a next-level type of feel hovering around the second baseman this year, the likes of which teams are starving for throughout the majors.

The league knows it, as was evidenced by the waves of Toronto coaches, broadcasters and players who went out of their way Tuesday to pass along their admiration of Pedroia, who had spearheaded the Sox' comeback the night before.

And the Red Sox know it.

"I don't have enough words to talk about Pedroia," said Sox manager Bobby Valentine.

But the last few days produced news that might make the Sox a bit uncomfortable when looking at the big picture. Two second basemen -- Ian Kinsler and Brandon Phillips -- signed deals that kept the position's market moving to new levels. Kinsler inked a five-year extension worth $75 million, while Phillips' deal will pay him $72.5 million over six years.

"There's a ton of second baseman who offensively and defensively affect the game," Pedroia said. "They're all-around players. Shoot, Ian has been 30-30 twice I think. He's a big, huge part of their offense, and Brandon Phillips is the same way. Hits at the top of their lineup, scores a ton of runs, plays Gold Glove defense, very good on the bases. And [Robinson] Cano is a middle of the order, run-producing machine. Chase Utley first made the position what it is, signing his deal. He gave us a chance that if we perform well it's a position we can succeed at.

"Those guys are great players. It doesn't matter what position you play, if you impact the game offensively and defensively you're very valuable to your team."

Still, going by annual average value, Kinsler has now set the bar for second baseman, coming at $15 million, surpassing Dan Uggla ($12.4 million) and Chase Utley ($12.4 million). Other than designated hitter, the max AAV for the position is lower than any other in baseball, and the DH at least has three players of $14 million or more.

But get ready, because change is on the horizon. Positional bias will be thrown out the window thanks to two players -- Pedroia and Robinson Cano. And that could make things potentially uncomfortable for two teams, the Red Sox and Yankees, who will be attempting to sneak their payroll under $189 million in the next few years.

"Dustin's value far transcends his statistics," said Pedroia's agent, Seth Levinson, who also just did the Phillips deal. "All of the immeasurable -- his heart and unbridled passion and drive to win place him among the true elite players in the game. Dustin has few comparables and certainly cannot be pigeon holed by a position."

Pedroia would have been a free agent following this season if he didn't sign a six-year, $40.5 million deal (with an $11 million club option for for '15) following his 2008 American League MVP season. So the conversation could be much spicier if the second baseman hadn't opted for the security of such a deal, which now positions him to hit free agency at the age of 31.

Predictably, Pedroia has no regrets about the financial path he has taken.

"Do I think about, like, not signing it, would I be better off? To be honest with you, I don’t think about it," he said. "I drive a Jeep Wrangler, bro."

But, even with three more seasons of controlling Pedroia's contractual status, the Red Sox have to start thinking about the importance of thinking ahead. Why? Because of contracts like the one just inked by Kinsler and, more importantly, the one about to given to Cano (whichever team might be the one to offer it).

The Rangers are no dummies. Even though they had Kinsler under their control through the '13 season (at $10 million, no less), they understood, like the Red Sox do, Cano's contract will change the landscape once again. The Yankees second baseman, whose deal is up after this season, will undoubtedly make more than $20 million per season, probably for more than five years. With their new deal, the most Texas will have to pay Kinsler is $16 million (for the '14 and '15 seasons). 

It is something the Red Sox should start thinking about, as well. Why? If you do have to go down the road of trying to sign Pedroia after Cano's deal -- assuming the Sox' second baseman continues his current production path -- it will make maintaining roster flexibility even more difficult than it is now. At that point, if the Sox were to re-up foundation players Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester, the team would have five players (including Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez) making more than $20 million per season heading into '16.

Even with a new Cano contract, even the Yankees wouldn't figure to be in that boat.

"I understand it's a business," Pedroia said. "I've had some of my best friends have to leave here. I was close to [Jonathan Papelbon] and I had to see him leave. I understand it's a business, but all I can control is going out every day and trying to help the team win. The contract stuff, I leave that up to Seth and the team. That's their job. My job is to play and help the team win games."

As is the case with Cano, the Red Sox have a pretty good idea what they have in Pedroia. Is he going to hit 1.000 in the ninth inning for the rest of the season? No. Will he even match the kind of numbers put up in that '08 MVP season? Maybe, maybe not. But there is an understanding in the organization, starting at the very top, regarding the importance of Pedroia's presence going forward.

It might seem silly to even broach concern about a player who is still locked up for three seasons. But the combination of Pedroia's early-season success, the reminder that this could have very well been the second baseman's walk year, along with the deals given out to Kinsler and Phillips (as well as the one awaiting Cano) should pass along a dose of reality.

"For me this is the only organization that I know and I want to be here and I love playing for the Red Sox," Pedroia said. "I love being in Boston and playing for those fans. It's really not my decision, it's the team's decision. Whatever they want to do, I'm here and I don't want to be anywhere. But I've seen guys in the past who wanted to be somewhere and they ended up not being there. That's difficult. I love being here, being part of a winning team and being part of the city of Boston."