Trading Pedroia would be a bad idea inasmuch as even a rebuilding team needs veteran leadership, .. which he certainly provides. Presence and continuity are important to a rebuilding team and Pedroia certainty fills the bill.

On the other hand, Pedroia plays all out all the time which is one of the great things about him. Even us Yankee fans respect that. Except, going into his mid 30s, .. which is where he’ll be by the time he gets to FA, .. all the diving for balls in the hole and full tilt playing is going to start catching up with him. He’s likely going to start getting nagging injuries that will effect his play and productivity. The smarter long term baseball move might be to move him now while his value is greatest and before he starts showing signs of wear and tear.

Clearly the strategy of trading Pedroia has it’s obvious risk and public relations issues but keeping him is risky too for the reasons stated. And, negotiating with a 2B that is a team icon and closing in on 33 years old, .. which is what Pedroia will be by the time he starts his next contract, .. will not be easy or cheap. From the RS he’s going to want a lucrative contract that reflects not only his value as a player but his position as a RS icon and a contract that takes him to the end of his career.

I’d likely trade him now and start rebuilding. Unless the RS are planing on making big moves in the FA market over the next year or two they aren’t likely to be in contention until at least 2015. Regardless, I think there is about a 50% chance that Pedroia finishes his career with the RS even if they don’t trade him before his contract ends.

Perhaps but if he gets off to a poor start, .. then he’s screwed. With his recent past AND the RS getting rid of the other expensive FA mistakes he doesn’t have the luxury of a misstep. He has an uphill battle to win over the Nation with little margin for error. And, Lackey was a decent pitcher but never a dominant one and never in the AL East. So, starting in a hole, little room for error, .. I wouldn’t be surprised if he not only didn’t become a fan favorite, .. but the RS trade him as soon as he shows he’s healthy and he shows some signs of returning to form.

Not the the RS couldn’t use a pitcher like that but I’m thinking it might be better tat he not be that guy.

This guy gave up on his wife during hard times, imagine what he will do to the Sox.

Beckett always yelled into his glove and JD always seemed lackadaisical (though I maintain he wasn’t). Youkilis and Bam-Bam were/are never afraid to yell, swear, curse, spit, etc. out loud in front of the cameras and that is one of the things, along with beong great players, that made them fan favorites.

It’s going to be very tough for him to make a successful comeback in this demanding market.

Lackey might do well, but he’ll never be loved or even liked in Boston. I can’t think of any player that sox fans hated and then loved. Even Nancy Drew went back to being hated after the ’07 WS and Nancy was never hated as much as Lackey. Lackey is despised in Boston.

F Lackey and F(!) Abraham.