Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia deserves one last chance to say good-bye

Boston Red Sox hero Dustin Pedroia is dealing with another issue in his left knee. With his playing future in doubt, he’s earned the right to say good-bye.

It’s been a little over a month since it was reported that longtime Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia had suffered another setback on his road to recovery. Shortly after that, it was reported that he’d be missing the beginning of spring training. As we’re now well into the Grapefruit League and players are gearing up for Opening Day in a few weeks, we’re highly unlikely to see Pedroia.

With each passing day, it feels like our chances of seeing Pedroia in a Red Sox uniform this season are getting slimmer. Boston CBO Chaim Bloom has already taken measures to ensure the team has a second baseman by signing Jose Peraza to a one-year deal and promoting Michael Chavis to the 40-man roster.

This gives them at least two viable options if Dustin is unable to go this season, and if he can, the multiple options will guarantee rest days.

It’s incredibly tough to see someone give every last bit of themselves to something just to have it taken from them in the prime of their career. Pedroia came out of the gates on fire by winning a World Series and the AL Rookie of the Year in 2007 and the AL MVP in 2008. After that, he would add numerous All-Star nominations, Gold Glove Awards, and even a Silver Slugger title to his name.

If he was able to stay healthy there’s zero doubt that he’d one day be inducted to Cooperstown. Sadly with the way things have turned out, a once promisingly great career will most likely end up as being just really-good.

There’s nothing wrong with that and deep inside I believe that’s what is motivating Pedroia to continue making these attempts at a return. At this point though, I think it’s time that he begins to transition to a post-playing career.

Pedey is lauded as a guy that played the game right and left everything on the field every night. With that spirit and love for the game as well as his strong baseball mind, he’d be a major asset to the Red Sox in a coaching/advisor role similar to David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, and Jason Varitek. All have staked their position in Red Sox lore and continue to have an impact on the team to this day.

Having to coach and watch others do the very thing that you’ve loved your entire life has to be ridiculously hard, but at some point, everyone has to make that decision. I like to imagine after a few years of experience under his belt that he would be named the manager of the Red Sox and lead the next generation to success.

That’s a long way down the road though and we need to get back to the here and now. The Red Sox seem to have their contingency plan in place to segue them out of the Pedroia-Era and into the future.

So how do they approach the possible end of Pedey’s playing days? We’ve seen in years past where guys near the end of their playing days get one more chance to take the field in front of their home crowd. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way for Dustin to ride into the sunset.