Boston Red Sox: Six steps for a perfect 2020-2021 offseason
By Sean Penney
Red Sox offseason plan Step 1: Buy out Dustin Pedroia
How they approach Dustin Pedroia will be the key to determining how much they can spend. The veteran second baseman is a respected icon in this city whose career has been derailed by a debilitating knee injury. It’s highly unlikely that he’ll ever take the field again but Pedroia isn’t expected to simply retire and forfeit his remaining salary. He earned that money with his outstanding play prior to his injury.
A compromise could come in the form of a buyout. The Red Sox are on the hook for the $12 million owed to Pedroia in the final year of his contract. If he’s on the 40-man roster or injured list to begin next season, Pedroia’s salary will count for $13.3 million towards the luxury tax based on the average annual value of his contract. He could still be paid most of that money in a buyout with the team perhaps getting some savings but the primary goals would be removing his salary for tax purposes and opening a spot on the 40-man roster.
If Pedroia is ready to admit that his comeback attempt has stalled for the last time then he might be open to a buyout. An amicable agreement could lead to him remaining with the organization in an advisory or mentoring role.
Removing Pedroia’s salary from the payroll increases Boston’s room under the tax to nearly $45 million but they’ll need more than that in order to pull off the perfect offseason.