Recently, there have been multiple reports that Scott Boras has been trying to warm the Mets to the idea of signing Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales, but it seems that the Mets want to solve the First base situation internally. At this point, there seems to be a pressing need from the fans to upgrade at short; Sandy Alderson said that it seems more likely the Mets will acquire a Shortstop through trade rather than free-agency. Some Mets fans are very fond of the idea of signing Drew and some are not, but here are some reasons for it.
Pros:
The Experience
Drew has been in the World Series twice- 2007 and 2013- and the postseason three times. He also has his highest career month batting average in September while having a track record consisting of better second halves. While the Mets are having a hard time finding a leadoff hitter, Drew actually has a career .343 OBP at the leadoff position.
The Obvious Upgrade
As it stands now, Wilfredo Tovar and Ruben Tejada will be the starting Shortstops, but Drew is an upgrade to both in almost every way. Tejada used to be a grinder that didn’t mind going to a 0-2 count against the most feared pitchers and coming out with a walk, but he just wasn’t the same in 2013 as he couldn’t buy a hit for the entire season. Drew would provide a nice stopgap until Tejada figures his game out or a better replacement is found. Drew also has bucket loads more power than Tejada with a .443 slugging percentage in 2013.
Defense
Basically the only reason Drew played in the postseason was his defense, and he utilized the glove pretty well. An argument can be made that Tejada in 2011 and 2012 was better than Drew in 2013, but at least Drew has done it under a national spotlight and in the World Series.
Drew would be an obvious upgrade to anyone in the organization as he provides power, some speed, and above-average defense. With the Christmas season upon us, the Mets should make the move to sign him.
I argue for Steven Drew on this site consistently … but to the author I don’t mind playing devil’s advocate here.
Drew doesn’t come free. On an annual basis, he’s damn near as expensive as Grady. The combination of Drew and a mid-level bull pen guy is almost as expensive as Choo.
We haven’t limitless resources, but a team with arguably one of the best eyes for when to fold ’em and when to hold ’em is showing Drew the door. And they *do* have nearly limitless resources.
To be clear, I think Drew is the guy for the Mets. But I blink at anything approaching 3/42M which is what I’m betting he thinks he’ll get. Sandy has to be careful here.I’d give him 3 years, but at an extremely favorable contract to the team.
I sent an e-mail to the Mets this morning stating that not making a change at shortstop would be a slap in the face to Mets’ fans. Unless Sandy has something up his sleeve trade-wise, not signing Drew for budgetary reasons belies the fact that the Mets operate in the largest sports market in the Country. While it’s useless to assume that the Wilpons will move on at some point, they will make more money with a better product on the field. Leaving the club without an upgrade at shortstop will not result in a better product. Merry Christmas to all!
Now that we’ve had some time to reflect on most of the offseason, I really haven’t been impressed with Sandy’s body of work; Giving out an unnecessary 4th year to Grandy, signing a SP for 2 years, limiting our options by signing Young so early and the unwillingness to trade with other GM’s and missing out on helping the team.
It won’t change my overall opinion on him, but if Sandy could get Drew for say less than 2/22, I’d have to tip my hat off to him.
Drew is certainly an upgrade. Tejada’s career WAR is 2.8. Drew has had four years higher than that.
Drew was not in the WS in 2007
That was my mistake, I meant to say NLCS
If SA says that a trade would bee a more likely option then what he is saying is that there is no money in the budget for a Stephen Drew type contract regardless if he is an upgrade.
Jerry Grote. Scott Boras would never agree to a team friendly contract. It’s just not in him even though it’s Christmas. No one questions that Drew is a definite upgrade at shortstop. The longer SA waits the lower the price as other teams in need of a shortstop look elsewhere and the market slowly dries up for Drew.
Just as a case in point to refute that Scott Boras won’t make a club friendly deal:
Steven Drew signed what amounted to a club-friendly, make-good deal just one year ago with the Boston Red Sox, with Boras as his agent.
I believe the budget remains fluid, and on some levels Sandy is playing possum. This is the same GM that said he was not in the market for a multi-year deal for a pitcher; that he wouldn’t give Grandy a 4 year deal; etc.
If the deal presents itself he has the grace from ownership to spend more than $90MM. No surprise to me at all if the Mets kept Davis AND signed Drew to a 3 year, team friendly deal. Ultimately, if the deal is too good to pass up, he has the authority to pull the trigger.
I would hesitate to call a 9.5 million deal for a guy coming off a negative WAR campaign and 2 injury plagued seasons “club-friendly”. He was pretty much in the same situation as Chris Young who got less money and arguably has a higher upside than Drew last year, and none of us are calling that club-friendly.
Didn’t Boras blast the organization before the Winter meetings…talking about them in terms of NASA and such? In addition to the money and year commitment, we will lose another pick in the draft. Drew comes with a significant injury risk.
Boras just wants to add teams to the pot of gold for Drew. The more teams he says are interested in his client, the sweeter the jackpot. If Choo turned down(excuse me Boras) for 140 million,how can Boras be allowed to get away screwing his client out of 10 million dollars? I think Boras is just as annoyed as us Met fans that the Wilpons are broke.
If Drew signs a club friendly contract, it will be a one year deal with a team he and Boras feel will have a chance for him to sign a multi-year deal in 2015. I don’t see a match here. The Mets are a 500 team at best. Drew needs a team that will make a realistic playoff run (Boston) to enhance his opportunities for the following season.
The Mets are hoping for Tejada to bounce back. If Tejada bounces back to his career average, 323/319/642 , it is similar to Drew’s worst season of 309/348/657 with 7 homers. Drew at his worst is better than an average Tejada. If the Mets want to improve and possibly compete, they can’t bypass this option unless it is too many years or too expensive.
Drew averages a 2.5 WAR over his career so at $ 5.5 m a WAR a contract below $13.75m annually is a fair value and likewise anything 4 years or under is fair in this 2013 winter market. This is the market and no matter how ridiculous a fan or Sandy thinks it is, it is the price of owning a competitive shortstop.
Tejada is not durable. If he goes down, what is next, Omar III ? Signing Drew adds Tejada as middle infield depth.
The Mets have not invested any new money into the 2014 team. Fans have watched the payroll dwindle and have been patient. The Mets get an influx of TV money and refuse to spend it to improve the team. As a fan, this is BS ! The Mets are just treading water this winter, as Chris F states, because their other aquisations only replaced the level that the Mets were at during the 2013 season.
If the Mets should sign Drew if it is a fair market contract.
We both know the reality of the Wilpons borrowing to pay for Citifield. Be realistic here. The additional television revenue goes to pay down the debt and show the creditors the team is on better financial footing. I’ve been complaining since I have been commenting here that the team needs new ownership. It’s the only way the Mets will see a fair payroll for the number one market in America. So the free agent market is getting ridiculous. Therefore you want SA to sign Drew even at those inflated numbers. Tejada will get maybe 1-1.5 million this season? What you deem as fair for Drew Alderson will likely be in disagreement with you. Wouldn’t signing Drew put the payroll at over 100 million? Don’t forget Bay deferred 12 million. Even if it’s not counted as part of their payroll the Wilpons still have to come up with the money.
On the whole, I agree. If Sandy Alderson really wants to compete, he can’t go into 2014 with a question mark at SS.
From some perspective as fans we are operating in the dark. Sandy knows with complete certainty the results of every workout that Tejada is going through in December and January. The physical trainer, you can bet, is forwarding a report to Queens.
We have a unique situation for Drew, we are the only team in baseball that really can guarantee the guy a full time gig at SS (at least, that is interested). Two years, a buy out option for a third is a win-win-win for Drew-Boras-Alderson.
Jerry I just don’t think Drew is coming here. I think Boras is trying to squeeze another year from Boston and the Red Sox’s are just not biting.