He is owed $25 million, to be paid through 2027. Pedroia, who did not play at all in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, has one season remaining on a $110 million, eight-year contract. He continued to speak of a comeback before having what the Red Sox said was a “significant setback” in the offseason. “We had a lot of young guys and at that time it was my job to help them come along and teach them things I was taught when I was a young player,” he said. He said he was better able to enjoy the ’18 Series because he didn’t have to focus on playing. “To have him here - it’s always better with him here than when he’s gone.”ĭuring the Series, Pedroia moved into the role of elder statesman. “He’s the heart and soul of this team,” infielder Brock Holt said before the start of the Series against the Dodgers, which Boston won in five games. The Red Sox won a franchise-record 108 games en route to the World Series. Pedroia managed to play in 105 games that year but had surgery afterward he admitted to rushing back in 2018, when he lasted only three games before going back on the injured list. “There was a slim chance at a double play, and there was one guy on planet earth who could turn it. “I’m not upset about anything any more,” he told reporters. But his career effectively ended early in the 2017 season when Baltimore’s Manny Machado slid into second base, spikes-up, and connected with his left leg.Īsked about the play on Monday, Pedroia said he was at peace with it. Pedroia made 11 consecutive opening day starts for the Red Sox, second in franchise history only to Carl Yastrzemski. “Bro!” Pedroia said, “What took so long?” ![]() Team President Sam Kennedy relayed the story of Pedroia’s first conversation with then-general manager Theo Epstein relayed after he was picked 65th overall in the 2004 draft. Pedroia’s work ethic was topped only by his confidence. “The one thing I learned for sure was that this was not about size. “He played with a little chip on his shoulder. “I asked myself one day, ‘Who would be a player that you would buy a ticket to see, because it was worth it to watch him play for nine innings?’ And my answer was Dustin Pedroia,” longtime Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz said. ![]() He is the only player ever to earn Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove and MVP awards along with a World Series championship in his first two full seasons only nine other players have accomplished those feats in their entire career. 299 with 140 homers and 725 RBIs in a 17-year career, all with the Red Sox. ![]() He just has that type of personality.”Ī four-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, Pedroia batted. It is impossible to spend any amount of time with him and not become close to him. He seemed to will himself at times to lead us to victory. “He always seemed to save his very best plays for the most important time of the game. “He was the ultimate team player,” said Terry Francona, the current Cleveland manager and Pedroia’s manager and cribbage opponent for six seasons. Dennys Reyes ended with a 2.70 ERA, and while he had strong peripherals to start, his walks have climbed of late while his strikeouts remained stationary.He was the longest-tenured player on the Red Sox roster and the only holdover from the 2007 championship team. With a 2.84 ERA and 13 strikeouts to just a pair of walks, he showed none of the control struggles that had hurt him in Baltimore. While Reyes and Albers did make the most sense statistically speaking, both would have been free to go elsewhere had the Sox not kept them on the 25-man, while Okajima and Aceves are now both down in Pawtucket, available should the need arise.Īlbers, formerly of the Baltimore Orioles, was one of the larger surprises of spring. The decision to keep Reyes and Albers was likely made with the intention of preserving depth as much as having the best players on the team. The Red Sox have made their final cuts and, as expected, Dennys Reyes and Matt Albers are in while Hideki Okajima and Alfredo Aceves are out.
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