Age: 33
Contract Status: 5 years, $71 million remaining
Pedroia bounced back from a couple of injury hampered seasons to prove he’s still among the game’s top second basemen. He pushed his batting average back over the .300 mark and posted his highest OPS since 2011.
He also remains one of the premier defensive second basemen in the game, as the four-time Gold Glove winner finished second for the award this year.
Pedroia’s age would be a concern for teams interested in trading for him, but he should still have at least a few good seasons left in him and his salary declines steadily over the last three years of the deal to help offset his eroding skills as he gets older.
With David Ortiz now retired, Pedroia is the longest tenured member of the Red Sox. He provides invaluable leadership, sets a great example for the young players with his work ethic and he’s a savvy veteran that routinely makes the right decisions.
As perhaps the most recognizable name left on the roster among casual fans, Pedroia may have more value to the Red Sox than he would to other franchises. It’s hard to imagine him finishing out his career anywhere other than Boston, so if another team dared to inquire about the Laser Show’s availability the asking price would likely be more than what he’s actually worth at this stage of his career.