Pedroia has "significant setback with his left knee"

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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This is the least surprising news ever. There's was never much of a chance he'd play again despite his defiant words.

He's done as a player. He'll go on IR and collect his money and live the good life, as he should.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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He shouldn't retire; he should go on IR and collect that money.

I don't know what will happen if he does retire, though. Usually if a player retires they forego the remainder of the money on their contract. At least I think so.
 

Bowlerman9

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He shouldn't retire; he should go on IR and collect that money.

I don't know what will happen if he does retire, though. Usually if a player retires they forego the remainder of the money on their contract. At least I think so.
This is correct. If he retires he walks away from the money.

Most likely scenario is Boston places him on the 60 day IL. Pedroia gets his money; Boston gets a 40 man roster spot back.
 

jon abbey

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He doesn’t need to go on the IL, BOS can release him and he’ll get his money.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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This is correct. If he retires he walks away from the money.

Most likely scenario is Boston places him on the 60 day IL. Pedroia gets his money; Boston gets a 40 man roster spot back.
Other scenario is the ARod retirement, since it's pretty clear he's never playing a major league game again. Red Sox release him, thus owing him the remainder of his contract and he immediately retires.
 

Ale Xander

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I hope he shows up that week of between positional players reporting and 1st ST game and just signs autographs for a week.

His arm and hand are still fine, right?
 

24redsox

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Petey,

Thx for busting your but trying to continue your career but give it up already as you cant play anymore. Love you to death though.
 

mauidano

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This is the least surprising news ever. There's was never much of a chance he'd play again despite his defiant words.

He's done as a player. He'll go on IR and collect his money and live the good life, as he should.
This is the general consensus. I am so sorry he doesn’t get to do so on a high note on his terms.
 

BaseballJones

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He's done. Nice career.

- ROY (2007)
- MVP (2008)
- 4-time all-star
- .299/.365/.439/805 slash line
- 113 career ops+
- 51.7 career bWAR
- 922 runs, 1805 hits, 725 rbi, 138 sb
- 3x World Series winner (though he didn't contribute much to 2018, he still was part of the team and got a ring)

He should probably have his number retired by the Red Sox.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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He doesn’t need to go on the IL, BOS can release him and he’ll get his money.
Is there a downside to not doing it that way and continuing to just keep him on the DL until he is fully paid? Even if it's only symbolic, I would like him to be on the team as long as he is getting paid and to retire as a Red Sox.

Is there any reason he might prefer an outright release? I guess if he asks for one the Red Sox would probably grant the request assuming he's not able to play for another team.

But, assuming that he is going to take the rest of his contract (which obviously he is), I would like him to be a Red Sox unless there's a roster or other reason for him not to be.
 

brandonchristensen

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He's done. Nice career.

- ROY (2007)
- MVP (2008)
- 4-time all-star
- .299/.365/.439/805 slash line
- 113 career ops+
- 51.7 career bWAR
- 922 runs, 1805 hits, 725 rbi, 138 sb
- 3x World Series winner (though he didn't contribute much to 2018, he still was part of the team and got a ring)

He should probably have his number retired by the Red Sox.
Almost another Nomar level of "what if"...
 

terrynever

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I hope Pedroia gets knee replacement surgery and can live a normal life without too much pain. Real life begins now that his baseball life has ended.

Pedey’s career was shortened by his all-out style of play. He never gave up on a grounder, pop fly or an AB. When he was young, Pedey could change a game in so many ways. His diving stops to start miraculous DPs happened almost every day, or so it seemed. He constantly fouled off pitches, worked counts and wore out pitchers.

Pedroia was the stylistic opposite of Robinson Cano, who only rarely left his feet, and often jogged to first base on ground balls. While I approved of Cano’s methods, believing they would prolong his career, I often wished the two could switch uniforms. Pedey was more my style of player. Hell, Torre and Girardi probably thought the same thing until maybe 2013. Jeter admired Pedroia. You could see it in the way they interacted at all-star games.

Cano finally got caught cheating and probably won’t get into the HOF. I hope Pedey gets in. His stardom was relatively short but his reckless zeal for competition will not soon be forgotten, even by Yankee fans.
 

Savin Hillbilly

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The wrong side of the bridge....
He's done. Nice career.

- ROY (2007)
- MVP (2008)
- 4-time all-star
- .299/.365/.439/805 slash line
- 113 career ops+
- 51.7 career bWAR
- 922 runs, 1805 hits, 725 rbi, 138 sb
- 3x World Series winner (though he didn't contribute much to 2018, he still was part of the team and got a ring)

He should probably have his number retired by the Red Sox.
You left out the 4 well-earned Gold Gloves. Arguably the best defensive 2B in baseball during his career, and while this is a hard proposition to test, might well be the best in the history of the Boston franchise. Among many gems, gave us the single most inspiring defensive play I've ever seen a Red Sox player make (F yeah).
 

Green Monster

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Sad day for Pedey, although not surprising as this seemed like the direction things were heading for awhile now.

I see the different speculation above about DL, releasing, retiring, etc.......Is there any best case scenario where Pedroia gets all his money and the Red Sox are able to get those $$ off the luxury tax total?
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Is there a downside to not doing it that way and continuing to just keep him on the DL until he is fully paid? Even if it's only symbolic, I would like him to be on the team as long as he is getting paid and to retire as a Red Sox.

Is there any reason he might prefer an outright release? I guess if he asks for one the Red Sox would probably grant the request assuming he's not able to play for another team.

But, assuming that he is going to take the rest of his contract (which obviously he is), I would like him to be a Red Sox unless there's a roster or other reason for him not to be.
The lone downside to keeping him on the roster is that there is no IL in the off-season. So right now, he's taking up a space on the 40-man roster that could be filled by a player more likely to contribute in 2020, and he will continue to be until the end of spring training when use of the IL is permitted again.

If he's truly done, the best thing for the team is to release him. It's what the Yankees did with A-Rod. It's what the Mets did with David Wright. It's what the Sox need to do with Pedroia. But again, only if he's 100% done playing the game.


Sad day for Pedey, although not surprising as this seemed like the direction things were heading for awhile now.

I see the different speculation above about DL, releasing, retiring, etc.......Is there any best case scenario where Pedroia gets all his money and the Red Sox are able to get those $$ off the luxury tax total?
No, there is not. Not without a lot of hoop jumping that is sure to get them in some kind of trouble with the MLBPA or MLB for circumventing the rules regarding payroll.
 

E5 Yaz

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No, there is not. Not without a lot of hoop jumping that is sure to get them in some kind of trouble with the MLBPA or MLB for circumventing the rules regarding payroll.
It's amazing how many times people bring this up, no matter how many times it has been shot down
 

nolasoxfan

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He doesn’t need to go on the IL, BOS can release him and he’ll get his money.
If that’s the case, he should be released. Allow him to negotiate how he wants to go out, of course, but enough is enough. I am forever grateful to Pedey for what he brought to the Sox, but it’s time to turn the page. I realize this might not be a popular position. I love everything about the guy, and consider him one of the all time greats to wear the laundry. Beyond sad that I will likely never see him on the field again. A raw deal for sure, but he left everything on the field.
 

ookami7m

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Fuck Machado.

yes I know it’s not all Machado’s fault but can’t help but see his slide as the beginning of the end.
 

sodenj5

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You left out the 4 well-earned Gold Gloves. Arguably the best defensive 2B in baseball during his career, and while this is a hard proposition to test, might well be the best in the history of the Boston franchise. Among many gems, gave us the single most inspiring defensive play I've ever seen a Red Sox player make (F yeah).
Never forget. Watching a young Pedey brings me straight into my youth. After Nomar got traded I hadn’t had a favorite Sox player until that little bastard came into my life.

View: https://youtu.be/X7B5pggq8hQ
 

tims4wins

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Game 7 ALCS, 2007, was his signature game and one I'll never forget. 2 run homer to extend a perilous 3-2 lead to 5-2 in the 7th, then a bases clearing 3 RBI double to blow it open from 6-2 to 9-2 in the 8th.

Then for good measure he homered in the bottom of the first of Francis in game 1 of the WS.
 

terrynever

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Game 7 ALCS, 2007, was his signature game and one I'll never forget. 2 run homer to extend a perilous 3-2 lead to 5-2 in the 7th, then a bases clearing 3 RBI double to blow it open from 6-2 to 9-2 in the 8th.

Then for good measure he homered in the bottom of the first of Francis in game 1 of the WS.
After he had to show ID to a Colorado ballpark guard to get in the gate?
 

tims4wins

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After he had to show ID to a Colorado ticket guy.
No that was before game 3 in Colorado

Before Game 3 of that Series, the Red Sox were walking into Coors Field when a security guard sized up Pedroia, took him for an intruder rather than a ballplayer, and insisted that he produce I.D. Pedroia didn't break stride. Recalling the bomb he hit with his first Series swing, he barked, "I'm the guy who took Jeff Francis onto the Mass Pike. How's that?"

Edit: unless you meant, after he he the homer he had to show ID... which yes, is true
 

Archer1979

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Best moment of cockiness was when the Sox were hit hard by the injury bug one year so Francona put Pedroia in the clean-up spot for a game. Pedroia's reaction was "About $%*%ing time." while he walked past David Ortiz.
 

Manramsclan

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Best moment of cockiness was when the Sox were hit hard by the injury bug one year so Francona put Pedroia in the clean-up spot for a game. Pedroia's reaction was "About $%*%ing time." while he walked past David Ortiz.
And if I recall correctly, he had 5 RBI.
 

stepson_and_toe

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Pedroia signed his extension on July 24, 2013 and there was an article by Gordon Edes and Kyle Brasseur published that same by ESPN that has the following:

According to John W, Henry, "Pedroia first approached the club about an extension in spring training of 2012." The article says, "Henry said he was taken aback when Pedroia approached him with three years still left on his deal" and that he was concerned they weren't serious about trying to re-sign him. Henry said, "I think in his mind the best way to do that is 're-sign me early,' and thankfully that's what we were able to do."

There is also discussion about, "In the wake of the Crawford and Gonzalez experience, the Red Sox had expressed an aversion to contracts of such length (seven years in both cases). Lucchino said, "What we have ruled out is the kind of long-term, gigantic commitment to players, if at all possible. We're not going to set a hard-and-fast rule that says nothing will ever be done along the following lines. We'll always have some kind of exception to a general presumption."

Given some of the unfortunate and bad decisions the front office has made in recent years in signings/trades, they have ended up driving the luxury tax penalties to higher than needed levels and also haven't built up the farm system, especially from a pitching point of view. They are at a point now when they will have to bury themselves under the luxury tax to re-sign their best player (and one of the very best currently in MLB) because clubs aren't willing to give up Boston's asking proce for a player who will become a free agent after the season ends. In the past, they might have found a contending team to trade with as the season is winding down, one that perhaps has not been in post-season for a while and feels that Betts is the missing piece; however, the trade deadline is now July 31st. So what do they do? Take the best offer of the most and best young talent they can get for him before the deadline and start rebuilding.

My personal feeling is that the Players' Union and MLB should get together and redesign things, starting with money. MLB should tell the players, "Here is your half of the money. Divide amongst yourselves as you see fit." That should keep the players busy over the winter.
 

lexrageorge

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Pedroia signed his extension on July 24, 2013 and there was an article by Gordon Edes and Kyle Brasseur published that same by ESPN that has the following:

According to John W, Henry, "Pedroia first approached the club about an extension in spring training of 2012." The article says, "Henry said he was taken aback when Pedroia approached him with three years still left on his deal" and that he was concerned they weren't serious about trying to re-sign him. Henry said, "I think in his mind the best way to do that is 're-sign me early,' and thankfully that's what we were able to do."

There is also discussion about, "In the wake of the Crawford and Gonzalez experience, the Red Sox had expressed an aversion to contracts of such length (seven years in both cases). Lucchino said, "What we have ruled out is the kind of long-term, gigantic commitment to players, if at all possible. We're not going to set a hard-and-fast rule that says nothing will ever be done along the following lines. We'll always have some kind of exception to a general presumption."

Given some of the unfortunate and bad decisions the front office has made in recent years in signings/trades, they have ended up driving the luxury tax penalties to higher than needed levels and also haven't built up the farm system, especially from a pitching point of view. They are at a point now when they will have to bury themselves under the luxury tax to re-sign their best player (and one of the very best currently in MLB) because clubs aren't willing to give up Boston's asking proce for a player who will become a free agent after the season ends. In the past, they might have found a contending team to trade with as the season is winding down, one that perhaps has not been in post-season for a while and feels that Betts is the missing piece; however, the trade deadline is now July 31st. So what do they do? Take the best offer of the most and best young talent they can get for him before the deadline and start rebuilding.

My personal feeling is that the Players' Union and MLB should get together and redesign things, starting with money. MLB should tell the players, "Here is your half of the money. Divide amongst yourselves as you see fit." That should keep the players busy over the winter.
You're attempting to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

The Sox were thrilled to have Pedroia locked up at a reasonable AAV for the long term. Pedroia was thrilled to have the security of a long term deal. While the team does have some luxury tax issues, those are not Pedroia's problem to solve.
 

terrynever

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Best moment of cockiness was when the Sox were hit hard by the injury bug one year so Francona put Pedroia in the clean-up spot for a game. Pedroia's reaction was "About $%*%ing time." while he walked past David Ortiz.
Love these stories. Pedey created a lot of them.
 

Manramsclan

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You're attempting to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

The Sox were thrilled to have Pedroia locked up at a reasonable AAV for the long term. Pedroia was thrilled to have the security of a long term deal. While the team does have some luxury tax issues, those are not Pedroia's problem to solve.
I do think, however, that some sort of relief from luxury tax implications was being discussed due to the David Wright scenario, which is pretty much the same as Pedroia's (a retirement due to injury, where the money was still guaranteed). My sense was that the plan was to at least mitigate the impact that it would have on the teams payroll for luxury tax purposes. It makes sense because the player would still get his money and active players would benefit from more money being freed up to spend by teams on the active roster. Therefore, owners and the players association would likely agree to it.

I can't remember where I read or heard that and a simple google search doesn't bring it up. I'll try to dig around and see if I can find it.

As for Dustin, I love him. He is the embodiment of what you want of a player on your team. He left it all out there and cared so deeply about playing and winning and he was legitimately great. If he had a longer career he would've made a good hall of fame case but sadly the last 4 years have equalled one season for him. This is a sad day.
 

Le Bastonois

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Anybody on this forum could have started this thread months ago, it was so predictable.
Does one think this injury motivated X-Man to sign his deal?
Will it have an affect on other young players to sign long term?
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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I do think, however, that some sort of relief from luxury tax implications was being discussed due to the David Wright scenario, which is pretty much the same as Pedroia's (a retirement due to injury, where the money was still guaranteed). My sense was that the plan was to at least mitigate the impact that it would have on the teams payroll for luxury tax purposes. It makes sense because the player would still get his money and active players would benefit from more money being freed up to spend by teams on the active roster. Therefore, owners and the players association would likely agree to it.

I can't remember where I read or heard that and a simple google search doesn't bring it up. I'll try to dig around and see if I can find it.

As for Dustin, I love him. He is the embodiment of what you want of a player on your team. He left it all out there and cared so deeply about playing and winning and he was legitimately great. If he had a longer career he would've made a good hall of fame case but sadly the last 4 years have equalled one season for him. This is a sad day.
There was no luxury tax implication. Because the Mets had insurance on Wright, which the Sox do not have on Pedroia, a player usually had to be on the team and on the IL for insurance to pay out (i.e. released and retired would negate this). The Mets came to a settlement with the insurance provider and then did the exact release/retire that many are proposing for Pedroia.
 

uncannymanny

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Is this the tribute thread? I’m gonna have a lot of laughs when we get there. Loved this guy’s heart, none too many like Pedey.
 

Rich Garces Belly

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Absolute number retired and entrance into the HOF, I loved his style but it’s probably what led to a short career. I’ll miss him if this is truly it.