Drew Considering Retirement

Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew is considering retiring after his current contract expires. There’s no real surprise there as he is now 35 and a very big family man. In fact, I think this is more then just considering retiring as this is the second time in the past few months he’s brought it up.

Back in the fall, Drew told Rob Bradford of WEEI that he was debating that option. Yesterday, Drew told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that retirement is an option after the 2011 season.

“I don’t really know what I’m going to do, I’m leaning both ways. I guess, I don’t really know,” Drew said. “It depends on how the year goes. I don’t know what I’ll do. There’s benefits to both sides, but I have to think it out, pray about it, talk with my family, see how my body holds up over the year, and go from there.”

While most players make their retirement decision on health, I don’t think that will be the case with Drew. In past interviews, J.D. has talked extensively on how much of a family man he is and how much he wants to be there for them. Well, right now he’s got two youngsters, Jack and Ella. He’s at the perfect age that if he walked away from the game now he’ll get to be there almost everyday of their youth.

Personally, I think the Red Sox wouldn’t mind at all if Drew decided to walk away from the game. Don’t get me wrong he’s actually become a very dependable player, even with all the injuries he finds a way to get on that field day in and day out, AND produce. The thing is the Sox have plenty of youngsters they’d like to work in and I’m sure they would love to use his $14 million salary elsewhere.

So what do I think, he’ll do?

If the kids decide they want dad around after this season, I can almost assure you that Drew would walk away from the game. It’s the type of guy he is, at least that’s what I think after what I’ve read about him over the years. If the kids want him to continue on and he’s healthy he’ll continue. The question then would be, does he return to Boston?

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Tags: JD Drew, MLB, Red Sox