Hero and MVP of the 2018 World Series Steve Pearce is considering retirement, per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.
Last season ended in storybook fashion for the long-time role player as he turned in a historic performance for his favorite team from childhood, the Boston Red Sox. The 36-year-old was acquired from the Blue Jays in June mostly to serve as a right-handed option at first base, but he reached another gear at the biggest time of the year. In five games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pearce went 4-12 with a .500 OBP, 3 home runs, and 8 RBIs in earning MVP honors.
As incredible as last season ended, however, this season was an equal disaster. In just 29 games, Pearce turned in a miserable .180/.245/.258 line worth -0.6 bWAR, last appearing at the end of May while suffering from back and knee injuries. Pearce was just one part of the topsy-turvy season in Boston, though his reversal-of-fortune was perhaps the most extreme.
Pearce holds a career line of .254/.332/.440 while playing parts of 13 seasons for the Pirates, Orioles, Astros, Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, and Red Sox, notably appearing in uniform for all five teams in the AL East. On his potential retirement, Pearce said, “I would have liked to have gone out a little bit different. If this year was a little bit different. But that’s baseball. That’s why it’s the most beautiful game in the world.”
keysox
Ya probably time to go. Made a few bucks in a fairly decent career
Eightball611
Most likely he plays better than you.
puddles
Never understood this argument. yeah of course he’s better than average everyday people… doesn’t mean he’s not a bad player at the MLB level at this point
phamdownbytheriver
It’s not really an argument….more like a bad case of sarcasm. Gets old.
myaccount
It also gets old hearing people hate on that; it goes both ways. Every statement in this comment chain was obvious.
ac106
He doesn’t play nearly as good as your mom
of9376
Coming the guy who lives in his moms basement….
DL0806
This site is getting bombarded with 6th grade humor
dlevin11
Made $6+ million for 2019 a year in which he barely played a game or two. Nice retirement fund.
dlevin11
Made $6 million in 2019 and did not play but a few games.
Francys01
He can still play just sign a minor league contract and next season can be a better year. He can help a team like the Pirates, Miami, among others.
DarkSide830
Miami should give him a shot. a mentor like Grandy, but perhaps with a bit more in the tank left.
PapiElf
I like this idea. Retooling teams signing veterans to teach the younger players seems to have become the new thing in the MLB over the last couple of offseasons. An example of this is the Rangers with Hunter Pence.
Francys01
Definitely, I agree with you Darkside830. Also, PapiElf you are right.
Wilford Brimley
No need to “consider” retirement; it’s already been decided for Steve. The Algorithm that runs baseball says he is too old and his WAR is too low to be offered a contract.
depressedtribefan
go get some diabeeeetus and just let him decide
jdgoat
Hell of a way to go out
binarydaddy
As a jays fan, I was more than happy to have him in the short time we did! And while I’m not the biggest Sox fan, seeing him get a title and MVP was worth it for me! Hats off Steve, you’ve had a great career and should be proud!
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
No matter what else… If you win the World Series MVP award while playing for your favorite childhood team, you’ve had a storybook career. Not necessarily great, but absolutely storybook! How many of us would have given body parts to have those five games as a memory??
Badfinger
It depends. Whose body parts am I giving?
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
We can see that you’re already not using one of them.
User 2997803866
These comments though. Just a bunch of jealous white men.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Leave off white and your comment is fine. Don’t be part of the problem.
murraysons
What does race have to do with anything? You know for a fact all the commenters are white? And so what if they are? Don’t be such a tool.
infractor
Methinks murraysons doth protest too much.
pasha2k
I want to wish Pearce all the luck in his future! I’ve enjoyed him in Boston but injuries knock you out. He was the hero of the WS n deserved his paycheck! I’ll miss him, he was irreplaceable.
crazylarry
Just another Dumbroski signing. Giving this hack a $6.5 mil contract was a joke. On the open market he would of been lucky to get a sixth of that.
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
Hindsight is 20/20
Occams_hairbrush
One of the worst comment threads I’ve ever read, and that’s saying something.
ShieldF123
Amen to that
connie mack
I wish him the best if he does retire! first class guy who got the best out of his talent.