Dustin

Pedroia

Pedroia will be paid in full ($12.125 million) for the final season of his contract. “Dustin came to represent the kind of grit, passion, and competitive drive that resonates with baseball fans everywhere and especially with Red Sox fans,” Red Sox owner John Henry said in a statement. Pedroia missed the entire 2020 campaign due to a knee injury and has appeared in just nine games total since the end of the 2017 season, so it was obvious this day was coming soon, but it’s sad that he didn’t get to go out on his own terms. Still, he had a heck of a career, amassing a .299/.365/.439 batting line with 1,805 hits, 140 homers, and 725 RBI over 1,512 regular season games. In addition to getting three World Series rings, he won the AL Rookie of the Year Award (2007), the AL MVP (2008), and four Gold Glove Awards while being selected to four All-Star teams. He’ll always be remembered fondly by Red Sox fans and he should make for an interesting Hall of Fame case. Hats off, Dustin.

Pedroia’s status came into question Monday with infield prospect C.J. Chatham being traded to the Phillies, as he remains on the team’s 40-man roster despite appearing in just nine games since the end of the 2017 season due to knee issues. It was reported in late October that the Red Sox and Pedroia were scheduled to “talk about a mutual understanding that would end his playing career,” but it’s unclear where those talks stand. Given Pedroia’s importance to the franchise, they’ll obviously handle this situation with the utmost sensitivity. Pedroia is still owed $12.125 million for the 2021 season.

Pedroia missed the entire 2020 campaign due to a knee injury and has appeared in just nine games total since the end of the 2017 season. He’s still owed $12.125 million for the 2021 season, but it sounds like there will be some sort of settlement instead as Pedroia will likely hang up his cleats for good. That would give the Red Sox the benefit of freeing up a spot on the 40-man roster.

Pedroia has appeared in a total of nine games at the MLB level since the beginning of the 2018 season due to complications with his surgically-repaired left knee, and it’s probably more likely that he retires than returns to the playing field. That said, the 36-year-old second baseman is under contract with the Red Sox for $13 million in 2020 and $12 million in 2021. Perhaps he’ll give it another go at some point.

Pedroia played through his sore wrist after getting hurt at the end of June, but he was shut down during the second half of last month. Probably because of the injury, he’s hitting .237/.337/.368 in 19 games since his promotion.

He went 2-for-5 in the first game. Even though he won’t need to be added to the 40-man roster in the offseason, Pedroia still might join the Red Sox in September.

Pedroia is still incapacitated by a left knee injury that has kept him out of action for years. He played only three games in 2018 and six in 2019. Pedroia suffered a “significant setback” with the knee last month and has not yet reported to spring training. The 36-year-old former star is unlikely to ever be worthy of fantasy rosters again.

The rest of the Red Sox position players will be reporting at the start of next week, but not so with Pedroia, who suffered a setback with his surgically-repaired left knee last month. It is unclear at this juncture just when the veteran second baseman might be ready to join the team. Retirement is a possibility if he cannot get where he needs to physically.

“Our medical group hasn’t talked to him lately to see where he’s at,” Roenicke admitted. “I’ll probably try to call him today or tomorrow to find out where we are and what he’s thinking and try to go from there.” Even if Pedroia joins the Red Sox in Fort Myers (the team’s first full squad workout is scheduled for Monday), it’s unlikely the 36-year-old will be a part of their 2020 plans following a “significant” setback to his surgically-repaired knee. Given his recent string of injuries, there’s a reasonable chance we’ve seen the last of Pedroia on a big-league diamond.

Brutal news for Pedroia, who seemed to be progressing well earlier in the offseason. The 36-year-old has appeared in just nine games combined over the past two seasons due to continued knee issues and was trying to work his way back from a knee joint preservation procedure last August. Per Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Pedroia is said to be discussing his options with his family, agents, and the Red Sox. It’s beginning to feel like this could be the end of the line for him, which is a real shame.