It’s unpleasant to read about even if it isn’t entirely surprising: veteran Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has suffered a “significant setback” in his efforts to return to the field of play, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). Details are scarce as yet, but it seems that Pedroia’s oft-repaired left knee is again to blame.
According to Abraham, Pedroia is now considered “questionable” at best to participate in Spring Training. That seems like a mild summation if indeed there’s a truly significant new problem with Pedroia’s long-problematic joint. He’s said to be weighing his future at the moment.
It’s not as if the Red Sox were relying heavily upon Pedroia in 2020. He was never expected to be ready until the middle of the season, if at all, in his latest attempt at a comeback after two lost seasons and multiple surgeries.
But it wasn’t hard to root for the gritty 36-year-old, a hard-nosed player beloved by Boston fans. And the team surely would’ve welcomed a contribution, given that it still owes Pedroia $25MM over the next two campaigns.
It seems the door is still cracked for a return. But even if this latest setback doesn’t completely sideline Pedroia on its own, it adds to the already heavy cumulative effect — both physically and psychologically — and raises the bar yet again for him to return to anything approaching his former glory on the ballfield.
Yolmer to replace him.
True
Excellent choice. I’d like to see Yolmer on a another contending team, though my preference would be to have the White Sox re-sign him.
The RedSox already have Peraza and Chavis to play second and are much more likely to re-sign Holt. Marco Hernandez and CJ Chatham are two other guys that could see time at second this year
Chavis is more 1B and Holt will be gone.
Chavis is more DH with iron hands.
Love the Dirt Dog but it’s time to call it a career.
And leave $50MM on the table? No chance, they’re saddled with that contract.
It’s 25 million, not 50.
Settlement.
Jeff, What the heck is the 40 day DL? I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.
Players can’t be placed on the 60 day IL until the season is underway. Unless there’s some new rules I’m unaware of—that’s how it works.
*****Comment section is very annoying now that I can’t directly reply to a reply***
Insurance
25 million for each of the next two years. 25+25=50.
No, it’s 13 this year, 12 next. 13+12=25.
Why can’t you reply to a reply? I still have the option….
RS should buy him out. He takes up a valuable 40 man slot throughout the spring. Luckily their farm hasn’t been very deep so it probably hurts less than it would other teams but there’s really no point in having to waste it again.
Theoretically, Pedroia could retire.. his contract and it remaining $25M comes off the books giving the RS some relief with the luxury tax.
Then sign him to a 2 year $25M contract to Manage the team, … Win Win.
I was thinking the same thing.
But then he has to perform for the $25m whereas now he doesn’t. Make it $30m.
He doesnt take up a 40-man spot as long as he remains/is placed on the 40-Day DL. Which assuming this news means he won’t be returning within 40 days of the start of the season seems like a foregone conclusion.
Yup
I’m not sure what you’re agreeing to. There is no 40 day DL. A player has to be removed from the 60 DAY IL after the seasons ends and he then takes up a 40 man slot. He doesn’t take up a 40 man slot once the season begins again and he is placed back on the 60 day IL. But through the entire offseason Pedroia requires a 40 man slot.
would be sad to see Pedroia hang it up now but maybe it’s time
He’ll manage next years team.
I’ve been a fan since watching him w/ the Sun Devils, and I hate to say it, but it’s probably time to hang them up. He hasn’t played a full season since we was 32 – and he will be 37 by the end of this year. Even if he can get his body in a position to take the field, what does he have left and how long will it hold up? Wish him the best either way.
Time to stop milking it and hang it up.
He is not milking anything. The contract is guaranteed. This may be the end of the road however
Exactly. Probably the opposite of milking it if he’s going through the grind of rehab instead of just collecting his guaranteed money.
Pedroia has more honor than Jacoby Ellsbury. At least he’s trying to come back instead of just collecting his money.
Why do you clowns fall on the side of ownership? The owners gave the players the option to sign those deals without undue influence. Unless you’re suggesting you’d turn down a significant and lucrative long term contract from your employer. And if you said yes….you’re a liar.
It’s called an opinion. Why do you have to assign a derogatory name because theirs is different than yours?
There is your new manager
That would be cool. Seems like he played the right way and would manage the same way he played.
Except for that time he threw his entire team under the bus during the Orioles/Machado incident — and a good number of those players are still on the roster! And on top of that – if reports are to be believed he was one of the ring leaders of the Apple Watch cheating scandal of a few years ago — so firing one manager for cheating and immediately hiring a player who was accused of it just 3/4 years ago doesn’t exactly send the right message. Nevermind the fact that as much as I like him as a player — I’m not exactly sure he’s intelligent enough to be a manager lol. Don’t get me wrong he seems like a great guy but there have been plenty of times where some of the stuff that’s come out of his mouth has been like a wth!? haha
you know…you might be on to something
There’s lots of options out there at 2B. Although they would have to be better than Tsu-Wei Lin (who hits righties well) or Michael Chavis. I would not be surprised to see the Sox roll with those two while they finish off Arauz or Chatham at AAA Worcester.
Kipnis is out there. Dozier, Zobrist, Holt, Forsythe, Dietrich and Neil Walker. Probably the most loaded position in terms of free agency.
it’s not Worchester until 2021 i think
I doubt the Red Sox spend anymore money until they trade Betts and/or Bradley + Price. Arauz can’t go to AAA though. He was a rule 5 pick. He has a decent chance to make it with the 26 man roster now in place. Assuming they don’t add anyone else
Gold glover yolmer Sanchez still a FA
That was the first post.
U r late.
Don’t forget they already signed Jose Pereza. I wouldn’t consider him better or worse than any of those other guys you listed.
Kick Rocks. He hasn’t been relevant since I was still rocking a sidekick and George Bush Jr was president
You were “rocking a sidekick”?
Also, you think his last relevant season was 2008? Check his career stats again.
His last relevant season was 2016, the last time he didn’t miss 30 or more games. That year, he had a triple slash line of .318/.376/.449 with a .825 OPS, 117 OPS+, 15 home runs, 74 runs batted in, 105 runs scored, 61 walks, 36 doubles, 201 hits and 284 total bases. He wasn’t bad in 2017, but only played in 105 games.
F Manny Machado that dirty POS!!!!
Ignorant and baseless. Pedroia was injured before that play already and he himself has said many times the slide from Machado had nothing to do with it.
Pedroia did not go on the DL for knee issues in 2016 and every article written about this attributes the original injury to Machado sliding into him.
I couldn’t agree more. Maybe Manny should
Pay off the rest of the Pedroia contract. Pedey is such a good dude that he doesn’t blame MM or hold any resentment.
I hate it for him. The guy plays hard and leaves it all on the field. He will be missed by true baseball fans
Agreed.
They already signed peraza to play second
So his contract is $13m for 2020 and $12m for 2021 and he already has $18 million deferred 2021-2028.
Could the Sox defer more of his salary? Say get 2020 and 2021 down to $5m each and then bump up the deferred years from $2-2.5m to $4-4.5m?
No unless it’s mutual
No unless it’s mutual
No unless it’s mutual
No unless it’s mutual
So you’re saying not unless it’s mutual?
so you’re saying there is a chance?
Why?
Deferring salary does nothing towards his AAV for luxury tax purposes. They can mutually agree to restructure and defer as much as they want with no effect.
Retire already.
Surprised the red sux haven’t tried to squirm out of the contract for this washed up money grubbing geriatric
Money grubbing? Seriously? Pedroia is considered a highly classy person, don’t insult the man.
Some might argue that he’s known for the last 2 years that playing as a full time player and at the level he was accustomed to was probably a pipe dream…..
I don’t consider him to be classy at this point. He’s dragging the team down. He’s openly trashed them for not letting him play only to have it later proven time and time and time again that he can’t play anymore.
Pedroia should approach the Red Sox about a buyout so he can retire. That would be “classy.”
He’s “dragging the team down” by honoring the contract that he and the Red Sox agreed to?
Idiots think idiot things…and usually blame players not owners.
Meh. Fake hustle.
What? At the time he signed his extension (just after Cano signed his huge deal with the Mariners), it was considered a significant hometown discount. He could have held out for a lot more. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.
Whoa…..In 2016, 6 years $85 Million isn’t bottom feeding so you could say some home town discount!…..he might have been able to play one team against the other and stretched that out for a few million more, but don’t mistake his deal to be bottom dollar at all. Frankly, he doesn’t compare to Cano offensively/defensively except in the minds of Beantown fans……so comparing his deal to Cano’s is questionable at best….Ironic that both players are being paid top dollar where either their skills have diminished considerably (Cano), or injuries have shelved them completely (Petey).
Is it possible that you might not know what you’re talking about?
How many Gold Gloves does Cano have?
Cano has 2 gold gloves
rocky7, yes, I know what I’m talking about and you clearly don’t. You could have saved some time and looked up Pedroia and Cano’s contracts, but since you didn’t, here’s the rundown. Cano signed a 10-year, 240 million dollar deal after the 2013 season. That set a benchmark for elite second basemen. Pedroia was still in his prime, and although not quite as good as Cano, was still considered top tier and could easily have asked for $150 million or more.
Instead, he signed an 8-year, $110 million extension running from 2014-2021. It was widely considered a hometown discount at the time and a sign that he was happy playing in Boston and wanted to be a lifetime Red Sox.
Next time please do some research before pretending you are in the know.
“Get off my lawn and take them toilet paper rolls with ya!”
“Excuse me Mr. Mania, but toilet time is over. Follow me out of the bathroom and into the cafeteria. Time for your medication. No. Two blue and one pink. There ya go.”
“I hate dem Red Sox. They’s all bunch a commies. Even got red in their name. They’s all Bolsheviks after trading that Baby Ruth kid. Bobby Doerr and Vern Stephens were commies. Where’d Billy go? We was gonna play some billyball.”
Just have him retire and offer him the manger job.
why would they want him as manager, theyre trying to be good
“Dem damn Red Sock commies. I could eat them for breakfast.”
Player / Manager?
Let him try his hand at running the team. You’re already paying him.
If he can get healthy by the end of the year he can play a little bit
Sending your manager away for several weeks while he rehabs? Makes perfect sense.
They do have Ron Roenicke
They might gamble with that
Boston strong.
I’m 37 and I’ve had multiple knee surgeries. No matter how much rehab you do, it is never the same. Can’t even transfer all my weight to my front side in my golf swing, let alone quick lateral moves required to play baseball. I feel for the guy.
but I bet you can fire off a mean snotrocket.
True dat
Would love to know the cause of the significant setback.
PEDs. Cant spell PEDroia without it
David Wright 2.0
I really like this guy but he should retire
It’s so sad that his 3 for 31 over the last two seasons has lowered his career batting average to .299. I wish him well but a return isn’t looking very likely.
This is a perfect opportunity to offer Pedroia the Red Sox managerial role.
Offer PEDroia the role of mascot. The new Wally
Could be the next Manager of the Red Sox!
There are so many stupid comments on this thread, it’s hard for me to see why anyone takes MLBTR seriously anymore. Many of the zealots who comment here have never watched a game of baseball in their lives, judging by some of the nonsense being spewed right now.
As a Yankees fan, I hate Pedroia. As a baseball fan, it would have been nice to see him get his feel-good, David Wright story and come back from all those injuries, even if it was just for a game or two to get a proper sendoff from the fans in Beantown. At this point, though, his career has effectively flatlined and it’s time to call it. If for nothing else than his long-term health.
I couldn’t agree more. As a Yankees fan, I can give no higher praise of a Red Sox player than “I hate that guy!!”
I do hope he can get bac3on the field at least one more time.
Most of these guys have no idea what pro athletes put their bodies through in training and the daily discipline involved. Same goes for injury rehab. They see it as someone sitting on their couch (like them) all day long while collecting fat paychecks.
Circle jerky
Does anyone know if they get to deduct his salary from the cap, seeing I would imagine insurance is covering most of it? I would imagine that that is somewhat fair. But really dunno.
No. His salary counts against the luxury tax. It won’t be an out of pocket expense for Henry but for accounting purposes it counts all the same. That is assuming The RS have an insurance policy on Pedroia. I really have no idea if they do or not.
https://www.bostonsportsjournal.com/2019/02/19/mcadam-sources-red-sox-dont-insurance-dustin-pedroias-contract/
Well it looks like it’s a moot point anyway.
Unfortunately for all the people saying the Sox should make him the new manager, that isn’t going to happen. Pedroia was implicated in the 2017 Apple Watch scandal, and the Sox are definitely not going to put someone in the manager role who is “tainted” by any sort of cheating. It’s not worth the optics.
Looks like it’s overwhelming.
The Trade Rumor Fans think Dustin should be manager.
Even the Yankee fans hate him. A sure sign of respect. LOL
But all kidding aside the man is perfect for the managerial role.
And Boston fans love him.
It’s a no brainer.
Hate to see it. Great player.
Hate to see it. Great player.
Hate to see it. Great player.
Pedroia is MLB’s Wendel Clark, it’s difficult to remain healthy playing such a full-on approach day-after-day.
Pedroia has been out of shape for a decade. He looked 60 years old when he was 25. The Sox should sue him for negligence.
The Red Sox should sue him because of his hairline? I guess the Lakers can do the same to Lebron.
If that’s the case, ESPN can do the same to Stephen A Smith.
Billy Martin would have loved managing him. DP is too competitive to just walk away. Think he will be coaching somewhere before long.
He’s been my favorite but coaching career should start now..
Thanks for the hustle and fighting spirit!
Interview him for the manager position.
Interview him for the manager position.
Great player. Sadly it ends for everyone sometime.
Would love to see him manage.
One of the most overrated players in the history of the game. Must be the power of the NY/Boston media corridor. A good, at one time very good, but never a great player. He’s the poster child for the danger of big long-term contracts.
Pretty tough to say he was overrated. He was the best 2B of his era. (Who didn’t get popped for Roids, see Cano, Robbie) Injuries took his career down but other than possibly Ian Kinsler there’s really no argument for top 2B of that time period. It was Cano,Peds, Kinsler. Depending on how much you discount Cano’s career for the failed test.
HE’S the poster child? Not Carl Crawford, not Ryan Howard, not Chris Davis, not even Mike Hampton? No, for sure it’s Dustin Pedroia. Smh
All these people clamoring for Pedroia to be the manager, but a manager of the Red Sox with no managerial experience? I don’t know.
Beltran would be the comp, but he knew he was interested in the next stage of his career and had been preparing for it. Beltran had experience with 7 different teams, had previously interviewed to be a manager and had worked as a special advisor for the Yankees.
Pedroia has experience with 1 team. He’s never been in a management or front office role to the best of my knowledge and he wasn’t preparing to be a manager. I just don’t see him as a good fit in this scenario at all.
David Ross comes to mind as a much closer comp. He was broadcasting games on ESPN last year and has never coached. And went back to the city he played and was adored in to manage.
Career OPS+ of 113 is good, not great. Had he played in Milwaukee, nobody would have noticed.
Did you ever hear of Ian Kinsler?
107 OPS+ roughly same amount of WAR. Pedroia was a top 2 2B of his era. Cano is the only guy with a better career. Kinsler’s is close. Going to have to say it wasn’t just Boston.
He was pretty good in his day.
Kinsler played longer. Give this midget enough playing time beyond his mailed in 30 PA since 2017 to collect his paycheck and I’m sure his career numbers wouldn’t look quite as pleasant
“Where my government check go! Nurse! Nurse! Where my government check go? How come I ain’t making what that Pedroia midget is making? He’s a damn commie Bolshevik. He keeps puttin’ them sacks a poop at the front door. Get Derek Jeter over here and have em guard the house. Second comin’ a Jeeeesus that guy. Ain’t no commie like Pedro. Prolly half mexican too.”
so make him and varitek the head coach and bench coach!
Enough Already!! Nine games in 2 years and 36 years old. Come on already ! What kind of playing shape is he in after a two year lay-off. Give him an injury settlement, his day at Fenway, a job in the front office, and off the payroll.
It’s like Aaron and Mays. Aaron was every bit the player Mays was, but Mays got all the pub.
Wasn’t he Beltran before Beltran?
It’s hard to say it but he should retire and then be the manager, seeing as they need someone now.
Damn it man. Pedey is my favorite player for his mental strength, grit, hustle, and overall style of play. I think it’s time to think about coaching now that the knee isn’t cooperating. Save a little bit of mobility for the rest of your life. Still relatively young. So glad I made the pilgrimage to Fenway from NC to watch him play in his last solid season of 2017.
The article misses the cause of these problems… The history…
Ummm…
Don’t the Yankees need someone to replace Ellsbury on the near-permanent IL?
Even though I am a Yankees fan, I gotta say that if this is how his career ends, it is really unfortunate.
The ugly gnome needs to retire already.
so so so shocked
Maybe the most overrated player of his generation. A good but not great player for his career.
What?
Rookie of the year?
MVP?
Parts of THREE World Series (though I admit he only payed a few games in 2018)?
There’s great players who go through their whole careers without those accolades.
Mentioning his MVP made me think of his commercial for MLB The Show. Hilarious!!
Overrated? He’s a borderline hall of famer. His peak was as good as Alomar and Biggio. He is comparable to Joe Gordon. And his career was better than hall of famers Doerr, Schoendist, Lazzeri, Evers, Nellie Fox. I don’t know if he deserves it but he deserves a multi-year discussion.
Borederline? Borderline crazy maybe. Rex Hudler on PEDs.
Gonna go out on a limb here……….(pun not intended)
He should retire immediately…….and manage the club for 2020.
Get Petey as pitching coach.
another free bobble head game a comin’
I think Pedroia leads the league in bobbleheads.
As others have mentioned, this needs to go to settlement and removal from 40 man and salary cap relief. Sorry pedey it is time
Pedroia can take over for Cora as manager.
I do respect the never give up attitude of players who so want to continue to play when all indications are that it is over. Pedroia seems to have wanted so badly to have another chance on the field. He likely would have been a shell of what he was but he would have gone out under his own terms and standing on the field. It looks like he won’t get that chance.
Well if he gave up he wouldn’t get paid his remaining contract, which is I’m sure part of the reason he keeps grinding this out.
I know Pedroia says otherwise but ill always blame Machado and his dirty slide even tho there was the new 2b rule then.
Hope Manny gets whats coming to him… mediocrity and being knocked out in the first round even if SD gets there.
Ur on drugs lol.. he’s washed up that’s it point blank
This is less than shocking. Great career but
man it’s been so long since he’s been relevant.
Starting to remind me of the end of David Wrights career. A team legend with a resume undone by an injury but keeps trying to fight through.
It would only be “ significant “ if he ever played again. Everyone knows he is milking the contract and I don’t blame him but he won’t play again.
With how much he’s on the DL, they should just rename it to DPL (Dustin Pedroia’s List).
“Player”-coach? I mean the already own him money.
lowereastsider — thanks for the bit about deferring/AAV. If I ever knew that, I forgot it.
His career is over as a player. I dont expect him to leave money on the table and retire, and there may be business reasons (accounting/tax) for the team to keep him on the 60 man DL and not release him. The Red Sox dont opt for
Player insurance so I doubt thats the reason, in fact insurance would be a reason for them to offer medical retirement
They could consider letting him manage while maintaining his player DL status much like Ohtani as hitter can play but be on DL as a pitcher. Dont know how effective he would be as manager but it would be good PR given his status in Boston
RETIRE
Lol he’s been done for awhile just like elsbury