Red Sox bringing back Drew
(SportsNetwork.com) – Stephen Drew’s brief exile from the major leagues has ended, and in a very familiar spot.
According to multiple reports, the Boston Red Sox have reached agreement with the free-agent shortstop on a one-year contract, six months after Drew rejected a qualifying offer from the team.
FoxSports.com reported that Drew will receive a prorated portion of the $14.1 million qualifying offer he and agent Scott Boras declined back in November, which comes to approximately $10 million for the remainder of the season.
The Red Sox have yet to confirm the signing, which is pending the completion of a physical.
Additionally, the Boston Globe stated that Drew will be placed on the active roster for Wednesday’s game against Toronto, though he’s expected to spend at least a week playing in the minors in order to get into game shape.
Drew started 122 regular-season games as well as all 16 playoff contests at shortstop during Boston’s run to last year’s World Series title, hitting .253 with 13 home runs and matching a career-high with 67 RBI. The Red Sox were open to bringing him back for this season on a one-year pact, which he and Boras refused in hopes of landing a multi-year contract.
Teams were reluctant to sign the eight-year veteran, however, due to having to surrender a high pick in this year’s draft as compensation since he received a qualifying offer.
Boston will not have to forfeit a draft pick for re-signing Drew because he was their own free agent.
The Red Sox initially chose to enter the season with top prospect Xander Bogaerts, who served as the everyday third baseman for last year’s playoff march, at shortstop and Will Middlebrooks at third. However, Middlebrooks is batting just .197 and is currently sidelined indefinitely after fracturing his right index finger on Saturday.
A career .264 hitter with 90 home runs and 416 RBI over 936 major league games, Drew spent his first six-plus seasons with Arizona prior to being traded to Oakland midway through the 2012 campaign. He signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox in December of 2012.
Categorized in: MLB
Tags: Boston, Boston Red Sox, Red Sox