Four time All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia retired from Major League Baseball in an announcement made on Monday. Pedroia, 37, hasn’t played since 2019 due to a knee injury suffered two years earlier. He played 17 professional seasons, all with the Boston Red Sox orginazation.
He remains the only player to ever win a Gold Glove, Rookie of the Year, an MVP and a World Series title in his first two full seasons. Pedroia’s knee troubles began in April 2017, when then Baltimore Orioles star Manny Machado took him out with a hard slide at second base. Since then, he has undergone multiple surgeries on his left knee, beginning with the initial procedure in October 2017. He played just nine games total between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Pedroia has one season remaining in a $110 million, eight-year contract. Of his $12 million salary for 2021, $2.5 million is deferred without interest and payable on July 15, 2028. His contract called for deferred payments for previous salaries of $2 million each on July 15 this year and in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and $2.5 million each in 2025, 2026 and 2027. In 14 major league seasons, he hit .299/.365/.439 with 140 homers, 394 doubles, 725 RBIs and 138 stolen bases. He is one of three Red Sox players to record at least 100 homers and 100 steals for the franchise, joining Mookie Betts and Carl Yastrzemski.
Boston is expected to retire Pedroia’s #15. He finishes with two World Titles (ring in 2018 as well only played in three games), and four Gold Glove Awards to go along with other previously mentioned accolades. You can watch the full retirement press conference with statements from Pedroia below-
