Pedroia has setback with rehabbing knee

BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia’s latest comeback attempt has been derailed by a recent setback with a problematic left knee that has already cost him most of the past two seasons.

“Dustin has suffered a significant setback while rehabbing his left knee injury. As a result, his status for Spring Training is uncertain,” Red Sox spokesman Kevin Gregg said on Tuesday.

The Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham was first to report that Pedroia had experienced a setback.

As recently as November, the Red Sox expressed hope that Pedroia would be able to return at some point after undergoing a joint preservation procedure three months before that. But in the course of doing some recent rehab work, Pedroia is now feeling discomfort from a significant amount of inflammation.

Pedroia is currently mulling over his options with his family and the Red Sox. The 36-year-old second baseman has two seasons left on his contract, which is to pay him $13 million in 2020 and $12 million in ’21.

Unlike the past two offseasons, the Red Sox haven’t planned their roster around Pedroia being able to play. With that in mind, the club signed Jose Peraza to a one-year, $3-million contract in December. Peraza is expected to be the starting second baseman.

Pedroia was hoping to play in 2020, but the setback puts his availability in question for at least Spring Training. He has had four procedures on his left knee since the end of the 2016 season.

Pedroia played in just nine games over the past two seasons, including six in 2019 before his knee flared up in mid-April.

The four-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year and MVP is a career .299/.365/.439 hitter in his 14 seasons with Boston.