Stephen Drew is still a free agent, and it could be a while before he gets signed.
The former Boston Red Sox SS turned down a one-year, $14.5 million qualifying offer earlier this offseason in the hopes that his agent Scott Boras could get him the three-year deal he is looking for. It’s now the end of January and no team seems interested in that price tag.
But there are three teams that have shown public interest in Drew: the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets. The Yankees were thought to be after Drew as a replacement for suspended third-baseman Alex Rodriguez. The Red Sox wanted to bring Drew back as an insurance policy for the Will Middlebrooks/Xander Bogaerts side of the infield. At length, we have discussed the Mets shortstop issues and their intrigue in an outside solution.
Today changed the course of all three of those teams. The Yankees signed coveted Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to a massive 7 year, $155 million contract, afterwards noting that they were done with big spending and player acquisition. So that takes them out of the Drew sweepstakes.
Drew’s former team, the Red Sox, took themselves out of things after comments by GM Ben Cherington saying that he was happy with the roster in place.
So that leaves our good friends in Flushing, the Mets, who have kept their interest, very low over the past couple of weeks. And they have played the waiting game, because they are comfortable going into the 2014 campaign with Ruben Tejada playing shortstop.
Now, it seems like Sandy Alderson has all the power in the negotiations. The other two teams Boras was using for leverage have bowed out, and unless he can pull a mystery team like the Astros or Blue Jays in, it seems that Stephen Drew will be wearing blue and orange next season.
Anything can change over the next couple of weeks, as seen today, but for right now Sandy Alderson being patient has put him in the driver’s seat to make another quality acquisition for the 2014 season.
Think two years and $22 million will do it?
$23, but who is counting.
I’m thinking he should get a 20% raise from $9.5 to just about 11.5.
Seeing how Boras works, he’s gonna save face for his clients and ask for an AAV “greater” than the qualifying offer but willing to defer money.
I think Drew ends up something close to what Soriano got last year: 2 years 28-30 mil, with half each year deferred so Present value is probably close to 22-23.
Hey Sandy’s patience paid off, how about that. Might even be able to get him for one year. Maybe the Boras magic is finally starting to wear off.
I hope you’re right… But now that the Yankees are going to pay that luxury tax anyhow they “could” jump into the Drew hunt.
I don’t care how long Sandy plays the line as long as he doesn’t lose the fish.
I’m actually becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of Tejada. I like Drew, but I’m good either way.
Tejada isn’t durable. The most games he has played is around 114. Tejada would be a good utility middle infielder for the Mets.
Chris is it possible the Yankees are playing possum? It’s not like they haven’t dealt with Scott Boras in the past. The Yankees are over the cap. Signing Drew isn’t going to affect their luxury tax. Just add to it. No GM is going to show their hand. So don’t be shocked if he signs with the Yankees for one year and gets another chance at a WS ring.
If they get him for 1 year at 10 – 11 million, or 2 years at $20 mil it may be the signing of the off-season. I”m not big on Drew, but you know what you’re getting, whereas Tejada is a mystery.
Just a thought. If Jeter decides to retire this season then the Yankees would have their next shortstop in house by signing Drew to a 2-3 year contract.
Pete, unlike the Mets, the Yankees will not blink at signing one of the five or six quality free agent shortstops next off season.
I’d peg the Yankees at picking up JJ Hardy. Just another 30 HR bat in their order.
I don’t see the Yanks doing Boras any favors then. So I guess the Mets will play the wait-them-out game like they did last year with Bourn. Who knows?
The Mets might be saving on Drew but Boras will make them pay with Harvey when his time comes.
Editor’s Note – Please do not capitalize words – it’s a violation of our Comment Policy
sorry, forgot about the capitals.