Veteran Red Sox second bagger Dustin Pedroia has given “every indication” that he intends to play in 2020, newly minted chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom tells reporters including Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Pedroia, 36, underwent a mid-season knee procedure that left his career in doubt.
The issues in Pedroia’s left knee aren’t new, and they aren’t simple. At the time of his most recent surgery, it was far from clear whether he’d even try to resume playing. But Pedroia reported feeling good after going under the knife and is evidently still on an upward trajectory.
It still isn’t fully clear whether Pedroia will end up making a full push back towards the field. Bloom said he hasn’t been fully briefed on the medical situation and has yet to sit down with Pedroia. The front office intends to meet with the long-time Boston star over the next few days, while in Arizona for the GM meetings.
What is known, per Bloom, does seem promising. “Every indication I’ve gotten is he’s feeling good and intending on playing,” the incoming top baseball ops decisionmaker says of Pedroia. “I know he’s working really hard to make sure he’s in as good of shape as possible,” Bloom added.
Pedroia is owed $13MM for the 2020 season and $12MM for the ensuing campaign under his long-term extension. He has appeared in only nine games over the past two seasons, and will be coming back from the most serious in a string of surgeries, so it’s more or less impossible to know what to expect. But the Red Sox can hope that Pedroia will be more than a budget write-off, even if he can’t be presumed to be available — let alone tasked with regular duties. With the organization hoping to shed salary and remain competitive, Pedroia could be a piece of what figures to be a shifting roster puzzle.
I feel for the guy. I respect him. He had a good career. He had a few great years. Earned some rings. No question about it. But it’s over. I feel like this is similar enough to Prince Fielder. I understand Pedroia’s injuries and issues aren’t as life threatening or lifestyle altering as Fielder’s might be, but the situation is similar. On this six year/$85M deal, Pedroia has been inactive/injured/unproductive for two of the first four and will probably not do much in the fifth year and I believe at this point he would have retired if not for the money owed to him.
Not everybody can be like Gil Meche.
I agree that he’s probably done, or should be. But Pedey loves the game. I doubt his contract is on his mind. He wants to go out on his terms and who can blame him? Dude’s a gamer.
25 million dollars is great incentive to keep trying. Even if he does get healthy enough to play I can’t see him starting over Chavis or possibly Holt.
Exactly! He is not going to retire because if he does, he gives up $25M. The only way he gets that money is to try to come back and play or get a doctor to advise him not to play and take a medical retirement. So far, his doctors have not done that.
Holt is a free agent
If there’s insurance, this is what has to be said unless there’s a settlement with the insurer or syndicate.
He could work out a “deal” with the Red Sox where he agrees to retire and they agree to pay him $20M as an “infield coach”/Special Assistant to the GM.
Red Sox clear his salary for luxury tax purposes and can trot him out to sign autographs/talk to the media. Pedroia still gets paid. Seems like a win-win to me.
I like Pedoria, but the dude pretty much had a knee replacement at age 36….it’s time to be realistic here
There is no insurance.
I dont think thats an option. I believe, play, don’t play, retire, become a coach, nothing removes the lux tax figure. I think they made that rule so there isnt incentive to do any of those deals.
To be fair, Pedey left money on the table with that extension. Also, don’t discount the intangibles. A lot of players have credited Pedey for having a big behind-the-scenes hand in last year’s World Series.
Meche’s contract was puzzling when the Royals gave it to him.
In hindsight, seems like he and the Sox would’ve been better off with less years and a higher AAV. Like 4 years/$85M. But they wanted their Jeter. I’m not denigrating by saying that. It’s with all sincerity. I get it. It sucks his career ended like this or is ending like this and maybe I am wrong and he comes back next year, has a .350 OBP hits 10 HR’s and 40 RBI’s in a part time role and isn’t on the IL for long stints and then does something similar in 2021…but I am doubtful.
Ryan Dempster was like Gil Meche
Why should he walk away from $25 million that he had negotiated as guaranteed money in the event something like this occurred?
It is his money. No reason to give it back to the Red Sox
Exactly..he gave them an incredible hometown discount…
He deserves every penny owed him.
I feel Price is a waste of money…and he’s still playing.
They paid Price to get a world championship. They got their chip, this is the consequence.
If he retired the RedSox wouldn’t be obligated to pay his salary for 2020. As long as he says he is going to try then he gets paid. Oh Peddy just retire, you don’t need the money and it would help the team (your team) get under the 208 million tax threshold.
Yes, help the billionaire, please. Listen to yourselves.
Why?
Loved watching him play more than anyone on the sox since Pedro.
But why? Just move on
Oh yea, 25 mil
What do you want him to do, sit at home retired? Of course he’s going to rehab his knee and give it a shot. He’s 36 not 46. Why not try?
AKA I am going to bleed every dime of this contract that I haven’t earned.
The guy once gave up his college scholarship because wanted the program to spend money to get the team to the college world series. Pedroia isn’t the guy with the “bleed every dime” mentality. He’s the type that will play until he literally falls apart.
He also played in a championship game with a dislocated shoulder against his mother’s wishes. He wasn’t going to tell her, and then his picture was in the paper for the winning hit. Read his autobiography. Just hysterical. The guy is a character. He just keeps proving people wrong. I hope he gets another chance. What else do people think they will say? Of course he is going to try and the team will let him. It is a guaranteed contract. It is in the interest of both for him to play.
Pedroia has earned every dime of this contract. He took a discount in the early years to stretch it out for long-term security. I guess you weren’t around when Pedroia signed this deal on the cheap.
Yes very lazy comment Crazylarry or maybe you just haven’t watched Pedroia over his career. Last guy I would accuse of bleeding his contract dry.
He is working his tail off and enduring pain you cannot imagine. He may have physical issues well after baseball due to this injury. He loves the game and doesn’t need the money. Some guys are built like that. If he cared about “bleeding every dime” he would never have signed the contract he signed.
By every dime…you mean the $25M he’s owed.
You’re probably the guy who moans when you don’t get your penny change for your $.99 gum.
I love Pedroias play, I’ll miss him. I can’t see him returning.
Don’t count him out. He surprised Us in college, he surprised us as a rookie, and he surprised Us by being an effective 5/8 Stumpy, not quick, average dude. The determination worked before and it might work this time. Let’s wait and see. What’s wrong with that?
I feel like Pedroia is a champion, and it’s near impossible to measure a champion’s heart. He’s 36, essentially hasn’t played MLB in over two years… but I’m hoping that if anybody can pull off that minor miracle, it’s Pedroia.
“…evidently still on an upward trajectory.”
What evidence points in this direction? The baseball exec telling us “this is the plan” without any medical update from the player? Sounds like spin. Maybe to keep the fans appeased when they dont spend the money elsewhere this offseason after an unexpected lousy season. Then Bloom can say he legitimately thought Pedroia could make it back and theres a paper trail…
If Bloom buys his staff written media comments concerning Pedroia, then it is a sign Bloom’s age definitely means he is too immature and naive to be in his position.
Dusty ain’t coming back and everyone knows it. Even Dusty.
Upward trajectory, my butt.
You may want to rethink those last four words, in that particular order. Could cause confusion.
If, IF there is any insurance what-so-ever paying on his contract the expectation of return is necessary for them to keep collecting. Even if it’s only lip service, such statements are required.
I stress IF given henry’s aversion to insurance generally, but, you never know.
Insurance on MLB contracts is NOT cheap, To keep the cost down, teams agree to an elimination period before they get the payment, which may only be 50% to 80% of the contract. A longer elimination period can reduce the cost of the policy. Also, it may not be possible to get a policy for a pre-existing problem.
I just got done counting. It didn’t take very long. He’s out!
Don’t worry or gloat Yankees fans, you’ve always got jacoby ellsbury.
The true 9 year old in every adult Red Sox fan comes out once more.
One championship in 19 years . Nice.
(Cue horse announcer)
And coming up on the outside corner it’s Giancarlo Stanton!
Good luck Dustin
It’s not the guy is starting a chemo regimen.
Please retire…Sox could use the cap space.
They get no cap space from him retiring. Try again…
He has 25 million reasons not to retire. I wouldn’t, either.
This story reeks of the Tulo nonsense from last spring.
Big fan of Pedroia, but though it was nonsense that he got activated for the home opener. Felt like it was to be on the team during the ring ceremony. I knew then he wasn’t ready to be back. Hopefully he gets medical clearance to retire and get paid.
The only thing Dustin ever stole was that MVP award, the money is all his he earned that and deserves every nickel. There’s a reason he’s beat up this bad it’s called grit and more players these days could benefit from having half the sack Pedroia has instead of milking the IL for sprained thumbs and toes.
The dude has two rings and a career WAR of 52. At the end of his contract, his career earnings will be about $114mm from the Red Sox. Even if he never plays another game, seems to me that the Red Sox got a heck of a deal…
Meh, they signed him to a contract that pays him through 2021 and all he has to do is try to play.
He’s done, he knows it but who’s going to say no to $25 million?
What Pedroia returning in 2020 tells me is that JBJ gets traded or released JDM moves to LF and Pedroia goes to DH.
I was thinking the same thing. But, with an alternate… Is JDM tradeable? I know he’s only under contract for another year due to his opt out but the Sox might be able to bring some prospects. He did state that he liked moving around. Bobby Dalbec could play left field and some salary could be freed up for a pitcher.
He has to say this. He can’t say he’s not gonna play anymore if he wants the remainder of his contract
Two years left on his deal. He has to give it one last spring training shot. He might retire and get a cash out if it doesn’t work this spring.
Insurance must pick up some of the salary?
I could see Pedroia doing what David Wright did by getting healthy enough to get one last game then call it a career.
By every dime…you mean the $25M he’s owed.
You’re probably the guy who moans when you don’t get your penny change for your $.99 gum.
And in similarly breaking news, Bobby Bonilla is due another paycheck in 2020. I miss the days when MLB trade rumors broke news.
Grady Sizemore
David Wright
Prince Fielder
Dustin Pedroia
etc.
Long term contracts for great players whose bodies let them down. Don Mattingly knows all about it as well.
Wondering if anyone knows the answer to this question?
If a player is injured into the following years contract, as Pedroia has been for years now and gets paid as a contract is a contract.
But is there a way to clear his contract from the CBT payroll computation limit of $208 MM penalty in 2020 and beyond?
Without that player retiring?
Or if he retires can that player come back again?
No, even if he retires it counts in the books.
He’s probably completely bored hanging out all day with Yoenis Cespedes, Jacoby Ellsbury, Troy Tulowitski, and Jed Lowrie…
It’s called a contract for a reason. People who act like he should retire and give up on the money seem to be missing that rather simple point.
If anyone deserves that $25 million still owed to him by the Red Sox it is Pedroia. There is a place reserved for him in the Gamer Hall of Fame. There is no quit in this dude and never will be.
A career to be proud of for sure!
As a practical fan I want Pedey to retire and make sure someone young has a shot at full time. As a Red Sox fan respecting the game, I agree with you. Pedroia has been the epitome of the phrase “dirt dog” and if heart and hustle alone got you into the Hall then he’s a first ballot no questions asked. He obviously won’t get into the Hall… then again, Harold Baines? But Pedey does deserve to have the Sox retire his number.
Pack it in and Coach for the same money to get it off the books Petey…or shut a guy up who says…”you’re cooked, done, a hobbling muddy chicken, who never passed the eye test and now we know why…bring it shrimp!
MLB would never allow that. You guys are just flailing. The contract is a contract. If he retires it would be for medical reasons and it would still count against the lux tax. Let’s not forget these are billionaire owners trying to save $, not Ethiopians looking for their next meal.
Cribbage Anyone!? You’re Done! You Can’t! Call Tito
I agree 100& Pedroia should get the $25 MM.
I’m only looking for creative ideas to get him the money and get under the $208 MM.
Any ideas?
For Example – can we redo the deal to spread the $25 MM over 5 years ($5 MM / year)?
I don’t think there are any options. His $13.75M for the next 2 years is a chunk but far from Boston’s biggest problem. They paid for a top rotation, either it bounces back or it doesnt. They can let young guys like Dalbec, Chavis, Chatham, Houck, Henandez play bigger roles and the seasom will still hinge on Sale, Price, Eovaldi the most.
@ffrhb14Sox Sale should bounce back. He’s had one bad year in his whole career (and a lot of his stats weren’t really that bad); other than that, every full year, he’s been top 6 or better in CY voting. Price could be a decent #2 or #3 if he finally gets healthy, but his days of being truly good are done. I’m honestly not sure how Eovaldi ever got the deal he did. I think the Sox hosed themselves pretty good on that one.
I can honestly say that I am very concerned about handing out long-term contracts to any player based upon the current contractual situation in the MLB. I am so glad they picked up Chaim Bloom to “hopefully” change the long term contract big spending culture of DD and Theo before him.
@SG You could probably do it with deferred money, but it wouldn’t be for the same $25M. He’d want interest on that money. It’s possible they could renegotiate with other stars for similar terms, but then they’re just hosing themselves down the road if they do that with significant money (like Price’s contract, if he’d even be willing). As for creative ideas, if you don’t like the obvious trading of JDM or Betts, I’d say the best option is to try to package Eovaldi with Benintendi and a small amount of cash (or some other similar pairing of bad contract with good, cost-controlled young player) for a couple minor prospects. These kind of deals won’t return huge prospect hauls, but they could provide financial relief without costing Betts, Sale, or JDM.
Force him to retire and offer a position on coaching staff
Force him? I am sure the union would enjoy that.
The BoSox still have a good team. Allot went wrong last season but, previous big roster holes 3B Rafael Devers, C Christian Vazquez and CL Brandon Workman broke out big.
MannyMachado is a piece of ….
Didnt David Wright have the same indication for the last 5 years.
Yeah and that was another injury that dragged on for years
Six games in two years? Come on enough already! Pay him an injury settlement, give him his day in Fenway, a job in the front office and retire him. This nonsense with him has gone on for two years too long.
it’s a tough situation but his contract is good for 2 more years 25mill unless the sox pay him that to retire now he’s not going anywhere