Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia is giving glimpses into his possible future
The Boston Red Sox are seemingly approaching a possible transition away from Dustin Pedroia. But even when he’s done playing, his future seems set in Boston.
As the Red Sox get set to send Dustin Pedroia on a rehab assignment this week many questions have come up on what his future may hold. It’s no secret that the pesky left knee of the longtime second baseman will never be 100%, but does that mean his career is over?
I truly hope that Pedroia has plenty of miles left on the tires but sometimes the sports Gods aren’t that kind. In m ideal world he’ll transition to a bit of a role player or mentor for the younger talent on the roster. He could be a huge asset to Alex Cora off the bench as well as coaching guys like Michael Chavis and Tzu-Wei Lin at second to eventually replace him.
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We’ve already seen Dustin take the next steps in his career during his recent spell on the IL. During a series in Tampa Bay Pedroia was captured giving Rafael Devers some advice on his footwork in the field. Sadly, that advice hasn’t done anything to better Rafi’s defense, but it’s a start. And then there was the story that came out after Eduardo Rodriguez‘s last start and that killer breaking ball.
“He told me to hold the ball like this and throw it like that,” Rodriguez recalled. “Two days ago I started throwing it with (bullpen catcher) Mani (Martinez).”
The story goes that Pedroia approached E-Rod and asked him if he wanted to see a “nasty breaking-ball.” Kinda like that scene from “Stand By Me” where Jerry O’Connell asks his buddies if they wanna go see a dead body. And sure enough in his last start, Rodriguez left the lineup colder than a corpse.
So with what seems like a desire from Pedroia to help and coach his teammates is his next course of action in the way of becoming a manager? I surely feel like that’s in the cards for the long-tenured Red Sox second baseman. I think if Boston had their say in the matter they would begin to transition Dustin into a player/coach role then eventually coaching full-time when he hangs up the glove.
With everything that he’s done in his career the next logical step would be to swap out his player’s jersey for a manager’s pullover. There’s a reason that I believe that Pedroia could succeed as a manager and especially with the Red Sox. Look no further than current Red Sox skipper Alex Cora. Much like Pedroia, Cora was a veteran infielder who played the game with his mind and his heart. They both get the meaning of the name on the front of the jersey being more important than the one on the back.
Dustin has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the game at this level. He’s a former Rookie of the Year, AL MVP, and is a multi-time World Series champion. That’s a hell of a resume to be bringing with you to an interview for a new job. And if he keeps up these side hustles while he’s not playing and continues to expand his coaching he’ll be set up perfectly for the next level.
The Red Sox and Dustin will need to eventually sit down and come up with a plan that is the best for the future of both. For all, we know the knee may respond well and he’ll be back to active duty after a few rehab starts. The human body is a hell of a mystery and every time we think we have the answers it changes the questions.
I’ve been a fan of Pedroia’s since he jumped onto the scene with Jacoby Ellsbury in 2007 and want nothing more than to see him go out on his terms. But if his body decides its had enough and it’s time to turn to the next chapter I would love it just as much to see him in the dugout every night next to Alex Cora.