J.D. Drew will play next season. After that, he's not so sure.

In spring training, the Red Sox outfielder suggested that he might very well call it a career following the final year of his current contract, which runs through next season. But after playing in his 128th game of the 2010 campaign -- a 4-3 Sox loss to the Blue Jays at Fenway Park -- Drew is no closer to making his ultimate decision.

"Not really," said Drew when asked if he had determined what his fate might be following the '11 season. "My whole thing is being as family-oriented as I am I have to let this whole thing wind down. When I signed this contract I did so with the intentions … when I put a signature on the line I want to make sure I'm committed to doing whatever it says. 

"When I signed in LA I thought that I'll have 11 years in the big leagues and I'll weigh my options then. When I opted out (and signed with the Red Sox)  I thought I easily had five years in me. Now I'm in a position, after next year, I'll have to make a decision if it's conducive to me going home and being with my family full-time, or if the family lifestyle is able to survive the rigors of a baseball season. 

"I don't think people realize the intensity of being gone. It's really, really difficult. Then there's where I stand in my faith and my commitment. Those things pull heavily when you start to get to this point in my career. There are so many things I want to do in the mission field and different things like that. It's definitely going to be a thing where I'll get ready for the season and as it goes along see what happens."

Listening to Drew -- who will be 35 in November -- it is clear he is torn when it comes to the decision of whether or not to continue what has been a 13-year big league career.

Drew is a deeply religious man, who has prioritized both his faith and family throughout his life as a professional baseball player. While some look at the continued opportunity to build on the more than $94 million he will have made throughout his stint as a pro ballplayer, the outfielder views it a bit differently.

"Absolutely," said Drew when asked if he would be taking his family into consideration above everything else when deciding when to retire.

"I've had a great time in the game of baseball, and the relationships I've come across have been great. But that being said, there's only so much you can do. There's something to be said for a dad who goes away to work in the morning and comes home at night. Those are the types of things that will ultimately weigh in my decision. It's something we will talk about. There are definitely options there and things to be thought through. I'm not leaning one way or another, to be honest with you."

Drew explained that his health, which has been up and down throughout his four years with the Red Sox, isn't currently a factor in the call whether or not to extend his career.

The right shoulder ailment which led to a clause in his current contract stating that the final year could be voided if he spends 35 days on the disabled list (with the  specific injury), or finishes the season on the DL and can't play the outfield in '11, hasn't been an issue.

"I've never had a question," he said of the health of his shoulder. "Not at all."

Despite some hamstring issues this season, it is his physical conditioning that Drew takes the most satisfaction in thus far this season. He's played in the fourth-most games on the Red Sox (128), and could end up topping his previous high for games played in a Sox uniform (140).

Add in the fact that Drew feels defensively he's at the top of his game, and despite a subpar year at the plate, the outfielder has no doubts regarding his production if he did decide to keep playing beyond '11.

"I've found a way to keep myself relatively healthy," Drew explained. "I get criticized a lot because of a severe knee injury I had my third year in the big leagues, which literally crippled me for 2 1/2 years. Then I broke some bones which was out of my control. The only time I really felt I wasn't prepared for a baseball season was my rookie year when I pulled a quad muscle and I rolled my ankle. That year I knew I wasn't ready for 162 games. But after that I figured it out. 

"There are going to be daily issues, and things that you can't quite play through. And unfortunately it's a position where you need your speed at all times. I feel like I know how to keep myself healthy. I also feel like I'm as good defensively as I've ever been, because I understand the hitters and positioning. Offensively, it's just a matter of find a rhythm and getting on a roll … There was a point where we didn't have any outfielders, I was the last guy standing out there and it was nice to come in every day and be able to have Tito stick me int the lineup when he really needed somebody."

First things first for Drew. The priority for the outfielder is to remain healthy enough to finish this season strong after having struggled through an August in which he hit just .198. That part is trending the right way once again, with the lefty hitter bouncing back with a .303 mark in his nine Sept. games.

Then comes the conversations with his family, and finally a decision, to be reached most likely at some point next season.

"You don't ever want to let your guard down and play the game like it's your last hurrah. I want to play the game I've always have, grind out at-bats, play great defense and make it the playoffs with a chance to win," Drew said. "I'm sure I'll have an idea before it's over. But that being said I'm not coming in spring training saying I have it figured out. I'm sure it will play itself out."