J.D. Drew Rumors

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Holliday, Teixeira, Mussina

A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere... MetsBlog recognizes that Francisco Rodriguez will improve the team and appease fans, but is not sure he is worth a four or five-year deal. Mets Geek projects the Mets '09 roster and looks at some options from outside the organization with Pat Burrell and Derek Lowe being the biggest offseason targets. Was Watching says bringing back Brian Cashman was a mistake. River Ave. Blues assesses the Matt Holliday market and feels that Phil Hughes and Robinson Cano for Holliday "doesn't make much sense." Sox and Pinstripes provides an in-depth preview...   Continue Reading

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Molony's Latest: Red Sox, Kelly Johnson

Here's a look at the latest blog post from MLB.com's Jim Molony. Molony agrees with previous reports - the Red Sox are eyeing outfield help. An inquiry on Darin Erstad fizzled, while Mark Kotsay remains on the radar. Drew might be headed to the DL. The Red Sox might also be eyeing another starter, given Josh Beckett's injury. Molony speculates that Kevin Millwood or Vicente Padilla could make sense (both have cleared waivers). Molony expects Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson to be traded this winter. Johnson, 26, slipped to .264/.333/.405 in 482 plate appearances this year. He'll be arbitration-eligible for...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Kotsay, Fuentes, Glavine, Smoltz

On August 18th, Rosenthal mentioned Mark Kotsay had cleared waivers, and that Brian Fuentes had not yet been placed. Here's an update, from today's Inside Pitch video: The Brewers and Red Sox are both showing interest in Kotsay. The Brewers would only pursue a trade if Ryan Braun's ribcage injury worsens, and so far he looks more than fine. The Sox made a play for lefty-hitting Brian Giles before Giles vetoed the deal, so it makes sense that they'd exert similar effort toward Kotsay. Even more so now that J.D. Drew has a herniated disc. Fuentes is expected to be...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Manny, Pavano, Gonzalez

Some Saturday mid-day linkage: Hitoki Iwase was lit up in the Olympics, possibly dropping his stock as a prospect. Iwase was one of several Japanese players being scouted by Major League clubs in Beijing. Luis Gonzalez reminisces about his trade to the Diamondbacks ten years ago. Manny Ramirez is not interested in talking about those old Philadelphia rumors. I'm shocked, shocked. J.D. Drew's back spasms are actually a herniated disk. According to Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox would love to add another outfielder, but can't seem to lay their hands on one. No offense to Jason Lane. He's baaaa-aaaack: Free-agent-to-be...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Giles, Dodgers, Indians, Fielder

Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up over at FOX Sports. Here's the highlights: The Red Sox wanted to use Brian Giles in right field against certain right-handers, and shift J.D. Drew over to center field for those games. Giles blocked the trade for family reasons, according to Rosenthal, despite the chance at an increased pay day and an opportunity to play in the postseason. Rosenthal says that while the Dodgers are under pressure to re-sign Manny Ramirez, there may be more pressure to sign Casey Blake after this season. Rosenthal points out that Blake is batting .333...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Beckham, Rangers, Peterson, Drew

A few more minor notes from the MLBiverse... Marc Lancaster is reporting that Tim Beckham, the top pick of the Rule 4 draft, will be visiting Tropicana Field at the end of the week and his father believes that a deal will be in place by the end of the weekend. The rest of the first rounders could sign quickly once Beckham and the Rays set the benchmark. Jamey Newberg wonders if the Rangers will have a hard time making trades because their farm system is so deep. The Rays might have the same problem. Jeff Passan names his All-Overpaid...   Continue Reading

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Cafardo's Latest: Drew, Pettitte, Lincecum

The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo works his way through all the teams in anticipation of Monday's GM meetings. Here are some of the rumors we haven't seen much before. The Rays want a defensive-minded shortstop and veteran starter. Maybe they'll make a play for Cesar Izturis or Omar Vizquel. A rehab guy like Freddy Garcia or Randy Wolf could be interesting. The Indians are looking for a power bat for left field. Haven't seen them mentioned with Barry Bonds at all, could that work? Cafardo proposes the idea of the Cubs acquiring J.D. Drew as their OBP-minded right field acquisition...   Continue Reading

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J.D. Drew Contract Resolved

Finally! Though the initial agreement came in late November, the Red Sox and J.D. Drew have finally settled the terms on their five-year, $70MM deal. As expected, the Red Sox have some outs in case Drew's shoulder becomes a problem. Team doctors indicated that he could have shoulder issues three to five years from now, so the escape clauses are based on that assumption. Boston officially has a murderer's row of .400 OBP/.500-.600 SLG guys in the middle of their lineup. It will be a nasty stretch for any pitcher   Continue Reading

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Red Sox Targeting Closer?

The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo has a J.D. Drew update for us. It may be that Boras does not want to revise Drew's contract given that Boras's surgeon gave Drew's shoulder the thumbs up. More intriguing is a line at the end of the post - the Red Sox are targeting a trade for a closer and are targeting one of Chad Cordero, Brad Lidge, and Mike Gonzalez   Continue Reading

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Inside Info On J.D. Drew

Just got off the phone with an informed baseball guy, and we spoke on the topic of J.D. Drew. He tells me that Drew has seen two surgeons for his shoulder, one requested by Scott Boras and the other by the Red Sox. It appears that one of the surgeons may have been Dr. James Andrews. The likely result? A one-year clause similar to the one the Tigers gave Magglio Ordonez. The Red Sox would be able to opt out after the first season if Drew goes on the DL because of the shoulder. In the case of Maggs, Detroit..   Continue Reading

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J.D. Drew - Major Shoulder Damage?

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald reported yesterday that J.D. Drew appeared to have a problem with his physical. He indicated that an Ivan Rodriguez-like injury clause would be included. He didn't expect the deal to be killed altogether. Additionally, Will Carroll chimes in with speculation that Drew's shoulder could be damaged to the level of Scott Rolen in 2005. That year, Rolen slugged just .383 in a lost season. Whatever the problem, Drew will seek a second medical opinion on Monday   Continue Reading

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No Holdup On Red Sox Drew Deal

It's seemed inevitable for some time; a source of Gordon Edes reports that there is "no holdup" in Boston's agreement with outfielder J.D. Drew. Edes believes it is still a four-year, $56MM contract with an option for the fifth season   Continue Reading

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J.D. Drew Deal Details

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports that J.D. Drew will receive four guaranteed years from the Red Sox at $14MM annually. The fifth year is expected to be an option. That is a lot of money for a player with Drew's health history. The contract will take him through his age 34 season   Continue Reading

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Drew, Roberts, Aurilla, and Dunn

SI reported yesterday that the Red Sox are close to signing JD Drew. Are sign's of desperation starting to appear? Gregg Zaun's agent has been in 'consistent' contact with Cashman and Julio Lugo has already talked to the Cubs and agreed to play CF. Speaking of Zaun, Mercury News is reporting that Zaun's agent is having 'consistent' contact with the Giants, that the Giants are close to signing Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia, and that they haven't closed the door on re-signing Pedro Feliz or second baseman Ray Durham. I hope Zaun's agent gets paid by the hour. The Pittsburgh..   Continue Reading

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Two Year Offer For Drew?

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News has overheard a few possible offers to free agents. He says that J.D. Drew is "expected to sign a two-year, $30 million deal with Boston." It makes sense for the Sox to pay an extra $2MM or so annually to keep the years down on this deal. Meanwhile, in a separate article, Larry LaRue writes, "Boston has offered J.D. Drew a huge contract - and Lou Piniella's Cubs have matched it." Ringolsby also notes that the Giants made a pair of three-year, $30MM offers: one to Juan Pierre and one to Gary Matthews..   Continue Reading

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J.D. Drew Set To Sign With Red Sox?

Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote a blurb this morning in the notes of his column: "Multiple sources say they are set to sign free-agent outfielder J.D. Drew, the Phillies' old amigo, for a 4-year, $48 million deal." Not sure what to make of that one. I could see such an offer going out, but I expect Drew to relax and wait at least a few weeks before signing. Maybe let one of the other big bats get signed first. Ken Rosenthal and his sources see the Red Sox, Cubs, and Astros as the main suitors. And while..   Continue Reading

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Orioles Interested In Drew?

Word from the Washington Post is that the Orioles have discussed signing right fielder J.D. Drew. I'm not sure where they'd play him, as Corey Patterson is manning CF and Nick Markakis is in right. Moving one of the three to left field would create a solid outfield defense, though. While Peter Angelos might not be best friends with Drew's agent Scott Boras, the O's did have some Boras clients on the roster this year. Bruce Chen, Patterson, and David Newhan are all represented by the uberagent. The O's have missed out on Boras clients like Vladimir Guerrero, Kevin Millwood,..   Continue Reading

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J.D. Drew Enters Free Agent Market

Here's a name I left off my Top 50: J.D. Drew. Drew opted out of the three years and $33 million left on his Dodgers contract. Back in the winter of '04, Drew was one of the bigger free agent names out there. He was coming off a 1.005 OPS for the Braves and received some MVP votes. The Tigers were believed to have made a four-year, $36MM offer to Drew in December of 2004, but ultimately Paul DePodesta got his "cornerstone." Drew is quite skilled at getting on base, though he's still a strong injury risk. He's an excellent..   Continue Reading

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