Dustin Pedroia could easily be mistaken for a mechanic, carpenter or plumber, most anything except a major leaguer.

"I'm not the biggest guy in the world. I don't have that many tools," he said. "If you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn't think I'm a baseball player."

Well, not unless he was carrying his AL MVP award.

Pedroia added to his ever-expanding trophy case yesterday, becoming the first second baseman to earn the honor in nearly a half-century.

The Boston little man with the meaty swing easily beat out Minnesota slugger Justin Morneau, Red Sox teammate Kevin Youkilis and record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez in a scattered ballot that saw five different players draw first-place votes.

Generously listed at 5 feet 9, Pedroia has quickly piled up a huge stack of hardware. Earlier this month, he won the Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger.

MARINERS HIRE MANAGER

The Seattle Mariners picked Don Wakamatsu as their new manager, giving the job to Oakland's bench coach and filling the only opening in the majors.

Wakamatsu was chosen yesterday over several other candidates, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly said the team expected to make an announcement today, but he would not confirm or deny the choice of Wakamatsu, the first Asian-American to manage in the major leagues.

CUBS SIGN DEMPSTER

Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed yesterday on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option for 2012.

He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million.

Dempster was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for the Cubs last season, then became a free agent.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NO. 1 TAR HEELS ROMP

Deon Thompson scored a career-high 20 points to help top-ranked North Carolina beat Kentucky, 77-58, last night at Chapel Hills, N.C., despite playing yet again without national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough.

Wayne Ellington had 16 points for the Tar Heels (2-0), who led by double figures barely 4 minutes into the game and never looked back in a matchup of the winningest programs in men's college basketball.

Patrick Patterson had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Wildcats (0-2), who finished with 28 turnovers.

TRACK AND FIELD

OWENS AWARD TO CLAY

USA Track & Field has selected Olympic gold medalists Bryan Clay and Stephanie Brown Trafton for the Jesse Owens Awards as the sport's top American athletes in 2008.

The awards will be presented Dec. 6 in Reno, Nev., as part of the Indianapolis-based USATF's annual meeting.

Clay, a graduate of Castle High School in Hawai'i, was the Olympic champion in the decathlon in Beijing. He also was the world indoor heptathlon champion this year.

Brown Trafton was the first American woman to win the gold medal in the Olympics in the discus since 1932.