Red Sox re-sign Stephen Drew
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
The Red Sox have re-signed Stephen Drew, agreeing to a 1 year, $10 million contract with the shortstop.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports broke the news on twitter this afternoon, and it was quickly confirmed by Red Sox beat reporters.
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#RedSox do not get pick they would have received if Drew had signed elsewhere before draft. But that wasn’t happening and now they get Drew.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 20, 2014
Filling a Need
Drew was a free agent this offseason and decline a 1 year, $14 million qualifying offer from the Red Sox. He went unsigned largely due to MLB rules that would force any team that signed him to surrender a first round draft pick to sign him. It's unclear how close any team got to the price tag set by notorious super-agent Scott Boras.
The Red Sox offense has struggled this season and the left side of the infield hasn't set the world on fire defensively. With struggling third baseman Will Middlebrooks out of action with a broken finger, the Sox will most certainly shift Xander Bogaerts from shortstop to third base to make room for Drew.
Where He Fits
Drew batted .253 last season for the Red Sox and posted just a .190 on-base percentage in the postseason. He's steady play at baseball's most critical defensive position made him a favorite amongst the pitching staff even when his offense was non-existent.
Drew is not expected to join the team immediately. He will reportedly play 7-10 games in the minors and get about 25 at bats before being called up to the big leagues. He did not have a formal spring training, so there's no guarantee he'll be in top form right out of the gate.
Drew is not expected to play tonight, but will be at Fenway Park, according to Rosenthal.
Drew will NOT be in uniform for #RedSox tonight but will be at Fenway.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 20, 2014
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