Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said he is "not sure" whether he will play baseball again because of his chronically injured left knee.
Pedroia, 35, discussed his injury at Fenway Park on Monday, shortly after the Red Sox transferred him to the 60-day injured list.
Flanked by manager Alex Cora and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, Pedroia said he will shut down his recovery indefinitely in order to ponder his future.
"(I am) at a point right now where I need some time," he said. "That's what my status is. ... Right now I know I need a break from the everyday stresses I've been dealing with."
Dombrowski referred to Pedroia as a "Boston legend" and said there is no timetable associated with his return.
Pedroia acknowledged that "walking is tough" for him on some days but said he does not plan to undergo another knee surgery.
Pedroia said "time will give me the right answer if my knee can do this."
The 2008 AL MVP had surgery on Oct. 25, 2017, and played in just three games last season. This year, he's played in only six games, getting two singles in 20 at-bats.
Pedroia re-aggravated his left knee in a game at Yankee Stadium on April 17 and was put on the 10-day IL with left knee irritation.
He has started and stopped rehab assignments a few times before he removed himself from a game at Double-A Portland last Friday due to soreness.
Indians manager Terry Francona, who was with the Red Sox from 2004-11 and won a World Series titles with Pedroia in 2007, talked with the second baseman earlier Monday. Cleveland is in Boston for a three-game series.
"He came over this morning for about a half hour," Francona said. "I think he's in a pretty good place. I think, I don't want to speak for him, but I think he knows he emptied his tank. He didn't leave any stone unturned. He probably gave more than he should, and his body is feeling it now. I don't think he has any regrets -- nor should he."
Pedroia said the time away will help him think about his future.
"I'm going to go home for a little bit to be with my family, kind of get away for a little bit and then we'll figure it out from there," he said.
He did say he'd be there when the team needs him -- via video chat.
"You can always FaceTime," Cora said, smiling.
"I FaceTime a lot," Pedroia said. "In our hitters' meetings when I was away last year."
Pedroia's knee troubles began in April 2017, when then-Orioles star Manny Machado took out Pedroia with a hard slide at second base.
Pedroia has a $15 million salary this year and is owed $13 million in 2020 and $12 million in 2021, with $2.5 million a year deferred without interest.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.