Stephen Drew Returns To Boston
Oct 30, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew (7) turns a double play over St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter (13) during the third inning of game six of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
According to Jon Heyman, free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew will return to the Red Sox. Heyman tweeted that Drew will receive about $10 million for the remainder of the 2014 season. The compensation is the prorated amount of the $14.1 million dollar qualifying offer the Red Sox offered Drew during the off-season.
Multiple teams have been rumored to have interest in Drew since the winter. The Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Tigers were among the teams as rumored suitors for 31 year-old. Drew is represented by Scott Boras, and the two were seeking a multi-year deal and came up empty.
2013 was Drew’s first season with Boston and he hit .253 with 13 homers and 67 RBI. It is unclear when he will join the Major League team, but when he does, Xander Bogaerts will likely move to third base to make room for Drew, with Will Middlebrooks moving to the bench or Triple-A.
With all the injuries the Yankees have right now, Drew could have been a guy Brian Cashman looked to bring in, but clearly the Yanks weren’t interested in adding another infielder. With no other players of significance available as free agents, the Yankees will look to replace the injured players with in-house options, or via trade.