According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Mets offered free agent Stephen Drew a a one-year, $9.5 million dollar deal that they had to know would be turned down.
The Mets suggested a salary close to the range of the $9.5 million Drew made last year, an unusual no-raise try that had little chance. It’s no wonder then that GM Sandy Alderson has termed a Drew signing “unlikely,” but the Mets would appear to have about the greatest need.
Not only have they been dissatisfied at many points with current starter Ruben Tejada, they don’t have any obvious shortstop answers in the minors. Another plus: they wouldn’t lose a first-round pick since theirs is protected as one of the bottom 10 finishers last year.
Well, if this is true, the Mets can now say that at least they tried. But seriously, that was as low-ball an offer as you could get.
According to most reports, Drew is looking for a 2-3 year contract for at least a $12 million average. The front office had to know that…
That offer by the Mets seemed like a total waste of time and it is not indicative of them ever having any real interest in signing Drew in the first place.
As Anthony DiComo of MLB.com wrote, the front office is not sold on Drew’s ability to produce at a significantly higher level than that of incumbent Ruben Tejada.
“There’s no guarantee Drew’s going to be as good as he was last season and the Mets don’t think Ruben’s going to be that bad,” a team source told him.
(Updated 2/22)
