Stephen Drew seeking $7 million annually in new deal
By Jake Misener
Veteran free agent infielder Stephen Drew is reportedly seeking somewhere in the neighborhood of $7 million annually this offseason, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. He says the New York Mets’ interest would only be piqued if Drew’s asking price drops substantially in the weeks to come.
Drew is one of the more intriguing free agents still available given his potential offensive upside and his experience in the powerful American League East. Last season, split between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the 31-year-old batted just .162/.237/.299 in 85 games. However, he is just one year removed from a World Series championship with the Red Sox, when he hit 13 home runs and drove in 65 runs for Boston.
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Given the night-and-day difference between 2013 and 2014 remains a controversial discussion surrounding Drew this offseason. Some believe he’s on the decline due to injuries he suffered earlier in his career; others believe his late start to the 2014 season is to blame for his struggles last year and that he still has plenty left in the tank moving forward.
Other potential landing spots for Drew, who is a career .256/.322/.425 across nine big league seasons, include the Yankees – who did trade for former Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Didi Gregorius earlier this winter, the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs – both of whom may be interested in adding infield depth – and the Houston Astros. However, once again, the Mets have been the team most often-linked to the infielder this offseason.
Currently, New York is slated to head into Spring Training with Ruben Tejada as the starting shortstop, which has drawn mixed reactions from Mets fans. The team was also linked to Drew last winter, but, as noted, did not sign him.