The Red Sox have reached an agreement with Stephen Drew, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweets that Drew is getting the pro-rated version of the qualifying offer of $14.1 million on a one-year deal. That comes to roughly $10 million for the rest of the season.
MLB Trade Rumors points out that because Drew won’t be on Boston’s roster for the entire season, he’ll be ineligible to receive a qualifying offer for next offseason. That should improve his chances of landing a strong multi-year deal next Winter.
Boston made the move because of disappointing returns from Will Middlebrooks (.197/.305/.324) at third base and Xander Bogaerts (.269/.369/.379) at shortstop where his range has been problematic.
Andy Martino posted a good take on this from the Mets perspective:
Drew is a solid player, and the move will probably help the Sox, who are trying to repeat as World Series champions. But he would not have lifted the Mets into contention, and was asking to be paid like a player of that caliber.
He would obviously have been an upgrade over Ruben Tejada (and it is worth noting, and criticizing, that the Mets somehow do not have another shortstop in the system who is anywhere near major-league ready), but ask yourself this: Why did 29 other clubs take a pass, too, until the Red Sox swept in on May 20?
I agree with that reasoning….
