Stephen Drew is heading back to the Boston Red Sox on a prorated one-year deal after sitting out the early portion of the 2014 MLB season while seeking a long-term contract.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports broke the news on Tuesday:
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports adds Drew will get about $10 million as a part of the prorated qualifying offer from Boston. Signing the qualifying offer also means one won’t be assigned to him next offseason:
Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal had more on how Drew is expected to fit in the Boston infield:
As for when Drew may join the Red Sox, MacPherson and Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe had the latest:
The problem for free agents like Drew—players who rejected qualifying offers from their previous team totaling more than $14.1 million—is that they become attached to compensatory first-round draft pick. That’s a steep price for interested teams to pay on top of the deal itself.
Back in March, agent Scott Boras talked with Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com about the difficult situation the current system places the players in:
The system they’ve been dealt has basically prevented them from free agency. They want to make sure about their next step, whatever that will be. It means either signing a long-term contract now—and we’re still taking offers on those—or a number of other prospects that could occur after the season starts or in June, after the draft happens.
Like any players, they want to play baseball. But they’re also looking at the long-term aspect of their careers. This system has placed them not in free agency, but it’s placed them in a jail.
He could have waited until after next month’s draft to eliminate that factor. Instead, he’s reached an agreement to rejoin the team he helped win a World Series last season.
There were other teams interested, but clubs like the Mets weren’t interested in giving Drew what he received from the Red Sox, via Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal:
Boston is looking for reinforcements after a sluggish start to its title defense. It sports a 20-23 record just beyond the quarter pole of the season. Bringing back Drew should provide a boost.
Drew gets to join a team where he’s already acclimated and doesn’t have to worry about going through a similar situation after the season. He also gets to start working his way back to the majors quicker than waiting until after the draft.
The shortstop posted a .777 OPS in 124 games and played plus defense for the Red Sox last season. The numbers should be pretty similar this time around once he rounds into form after the long layoff.
Exactly how long that will take is unclear. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe noted the lack of a timetable and how his teammates wanted him back in the fold:
Drew alone isn’t enough to completely overcome Boston’s early struggles. He does represent a step in the right direction, though. And with the front office realizing he wasn’t going to net it a first-round pick, it made sense to sign him before losing him for nothing after the draft.
All told, it’s a good situation for all parties involved.
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