Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who has played in only nine MLB games over the past two seasons, said Monday that he’s not sure his chronically troublesome left knee will allow him to ever play again and that, for now, he needs some time to rest and think.
The team on Monday moved Pedroia, 35, to the 60-day injured list and, more ominous Monday morning, the team announced that Pedroia, manager Alex Cora and team president Dave Dombrowski would address the media hours after the roster move.
"It's to a point now where my knee isn't allowing me to play every day. It's taken a while to realize that. I've tried so many things … I'm at a point now where I need some time. So, that's where my status is," Pedroia told reporters, saying almost everything outside of saying he is retiring.
Dustin Pedroia on the harsh reality of his chronic knee injury and his future with the #redsox. https://t.co/CRukEiNRjn pic.twitter.com/REOLvYOHUF
— NESN (@NESN) May 27, 2019
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A serious-looking Pedroia added that he's not considering more surgery because it could affect his "future quality of life."
The man Dombrowski on Monday called "a Boston legend" has played in only six games this season after appearing in just three in 2018 because of chronic pain in the surgically repaired knee.
In 1,512 MLB games since 2006, all with the Red Sox, Pedroia has slashed .299/.365/.439 with 140 home runs, 922 runs and 725 RBIs. More than any stat, his down-and-dirty approach to the game endeared him to Boston fans.
But he was forced to pull himself from a rehab game Friday with the Portland SeaDogs when the knee became too painful, "another red flag," Cora told reporters Saturday.
Cora said, “We've been talking a lot the past few days, and I think for him to disconnect from the whole grind is best for him, not just for him but for his family, too."
Alex Cora and Dustin Pedroia were teammates from 2006-2008. The skipper talks about Pedroia's injury status in the @Amica Alex Cora Pregame Press Conference. https://t.co/CRukEiNRjn pic.twitter.com/NCAnZtYTJi
— NESN (@NESN) May 27, 2019
It marks the second time this month that the Red Sox have had to hit the pause button on Pedroia’s rehab. He previously was sidelined five days when his knee started to act up earlier this month after a stint at Portland. Most recently, he played in five games over six days for the Pawtucket Red Sox before joining the SeaDogs on Friday.
"I haven't had a day off (from rehab) in a long time … and I just need a little time off to rest and think," Pedroia said.
The second baseman — a four-time All-Star and two-time champion with the Red Sox — has experienced issues with the knee since 2017 and underwent cartilage restoration surgery before last season.
He made his 2019 debut in Boston's home opener in April, but the fan favorite is just 2-for-20 with one RBI and has started four games at second base (counting a short appearance that landed him on the 10-day IL in mid-April) and two others at designated hitter.
