Dustin Pedroia: "I'm Not Sure If I'll Be Able To Play Again"

The Red Sox just held a press conference with Alex Cora, Dustin Pedroia and Dave Dombrowski, announcing that Pedroia has been moved to the 60-day injured list. On top of that, Pedroia announced that he’s stepping away from his attempt to return to the major league roster for right now, that he hasn’t yet considered retirement, but it sounds like that’s certainly on the table.

For the Red Sox legend, it has been a long road to recovery, an uphill battle that, for him, must seem like it’s never-ending. It doesn’t sound like he’s willing to undergo another surgery, so it’s either rest and recovery or the unfortunate alternative, which is hanging it up and calling it a career. “My knee will never heal,” were his own words. He was straight up asked if he’d ever play again, to which he said, “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to play again.”

In his most recent rehab stint, Pedroia hasn’t been able to play every day. With frustrations at an all-time high, I’m sure, the former league MVP has decided to put his latest comeback attempt on hold, go home to his family and discuss his future, while seeing if the knee responds to rest.

I’m sure there are plenty of fans out there who are in the “just hang it up” camp, but I’ll never tell another man what to do with their career or their livelihood. Pedroia is being paid $15 million this season, while still being owed $13 million next season and $12 million in 2021. If Pedroia decides that retirement is the best course of action, one would hope that the Red Sox still write him a check for that remaining $25 million. He’s earned it.

I can’t stress this point enough — this isn’t Jacoby Ellsbury we’re talking about, who was made of glass. This is Dustin fucking Pedroia, who’s only in the situation that he’s currently in, health-wise, because he played the game so damn hard every single day for over a decade. He did that for his teammates, he did that for the fans, and he did that because he was proud of the name that he wore across the front of his jersey. They don’t make ‘em like Pedroia anymore.

Perhaps the next time we hear from Pedroia or any Pedroia-related news, it will be a retirement announcement. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, it would seem as though the Red Sox have to move forward under the assumption that he’s never coming back. But with Michael Chavis in the fold, it would also seem as though the Red Sox have already been operating under the notion that Pedroia’s days as an everyday player are over regardless.

It sucks, but that was the price that Pedroia has had to pay for busting his ass every single day. And for that, I’m both thankful and appreciative.