Pedroia will be paid in full ($12.125 million) for the final season of his contract. "Dustin came to represent the kind of grit, passion, and competitive drive that resonates with baseball fans everywhere and especially with Red Sox fans," Red Sox owner John Henry said in a statement. Pedroia missed the entire 2020 campaign due to a knee injury and has appeared in just nine games total since the end of the 2017 season, so it was obvious this day was coming soon, but it's sad that he didn't get to go out on his own terms. Still, he had a heck of a career, amassing a .299/.365/.439 batting line with 1,805 hits, 140 homers, and 725 RBI over 1,512 regular season games. In addition to getting three World Series rings, he won the AL Rookie of the Year Award (2007), the AL MVP (2008), and four Gold Glove Awards while being selected to four All-Star teams. He'll always be remembered fondly by Red Sox fans and he should make for an interesting Hall of Fame case. Hats off, Dustin.

Pedroia's status came into question Monday with infield prospect C.J. Chatham being traded to the Phillies, as he remains on the team's 40-man roster despite appearing in just nine games since the end of the 2017 season due to knee issues. It was reported in late October that the Red Sox and Pedroia were scheduled to "talk about a mutual understanding that would end his playing career," but it's unclear where those talks stand. Given Pedroia's importance to the franchise, they'll obviously handle this situation with the utmost sensitivity. Pedroia is still owed $12.125 million for the 2021 season.

Pedroia missed the entire 2020 campaign due to a knee injury and has appeared in just nine games total since the end of the 2017 season. He's still owed $12.125 million for the 2021 season, but it sounds like there will be some sort of settlement instead as Pedroia will likely hang up his cleats for good. That would give the Red Sox the benefit of freeing up a spot on the 40-man roster.

Pedroia has appeared in a total of nine games at the MLB level since the beginning of the 2018 season due to complications with his surgically-repaired left knee, and it's probably more likely that he retires than returns to the playing field. That said, the 36-year-old second baseman is under contract with the Red Sox for $13 million in 2020 and $12 million in 2021. Perhaps he'll give it another go at some point.