The A's declined their half of Stephen Drew's mutual $10MM option earlier today, but assistant general manager David Forst told Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group that the team will continue to negotiate with the shortstop. Forst feels that the team has reason to be optimistic, but $10MM wasn't a number they were comfortable with (All Twitter links).
Drew was injured for much of the 2012 season and was acquired by the A's in an August trade. Drew hit .250/.326/.382 with five homers in 39 games for the AL West Champions. Overall on the year, however, Drew's triple-slash line was a meager .223/.309/.348.
The A's traded 2012 Opening Day starter Cliff Pennington to Drew's former team, the Diamondbacks, earlier this month, so there's a clear need at shortstop. Drew represents one of the better shortstop options on this season's free agent market in spite of his diminished production, meaning GM Billy Beane will have some competition.
Drew, who is represented by Scott Boras, received a $1.35MM buyout when the A's bought out their half of his option.
I think Boston is the best fit for Stephen Drew. They need a SS, he won’t be over valued, he plays good defense, and is a line drive type hitter who could play pepper with that LF wall.
I think that BOS really needs a guy like Drew, and maybe a guy like Swisher to play 1B. Who knows but now that they have the money they could sign those 2 and a couple of high quality pitchers like Greinke.
Boston fans always say “boston is the best fit for XXX” or oh we need to trade for so and so.
I think Oakland is the best fit for Stephen Drew. They need a SS, he won’t be over valued, he plays good defines, and is a line drive type hitter who will want to play for an exciting team that is heading in the right direction.
I think that OAK really needs a guy like Drew, and maybe a guy like David Wright to play 3B.
They just paid him 1.35 million.
Once he hits the open market A’s have to hope that no one offers him a high 1 or 2 year deal, or else they won’t match or beat.
So as of right now, if boston offers him a 1 year 9 million dollar deal. why wouldn’t he accept?
Because of the part that says 1 year.
lol he is not going anywhere but Oakland. Adding Chris Young made sure of that
It didn’t make sure of that, since there are a few trade oppurtunities too
Not a Boston fan, die hard Braves fan, just saying I think it makes sense. They don’t have one, they just traded Aviles I think, Iglesias couldn’t hit a beach ball, won’t bring back Scutaro to play SS again. Unless they trade for a SS, there couldn’t be a more obvious fit out there IMO
you did sound like a boston fan though, and if you know any you’ll know what i mean! haha
This makes great sense for both sides. Boras will want to get Drew on a 1 year deal to re-establish his health and put up numbers around his career average, which will easily land him a 5 year, 60+ million dollar deal…and it makes sense for Boston to get a 1 year guy while they wait for Iglesias…if they think he is the answer. The only way I see this not working is if a team comes at Drew with a 4+ year deal.
I think Boston had enough of the “Drew” Family, thanks to his brother JD.
JD wasn’t bad, very injury prone during his career but jot bad
Stephen Drew is left handed, I don’t think he’ll be going opposite field too often and hitting the LF wall.
Seems like BOS is going with Iglesias (at least to start the season). Much more attractive option than an injury-prone Scott Boras client.
Drew could easily be in line for a 4-year, 40 million dollar deal…and that’s on the low end. SS is the most depleted position in baseball today, and the top guys are all locked up…so that leaves all the teams bidding on the mid to lower tier guys…Drew put up solid numbers in his time with Oakland, and he is only 29. It is easy to forget that his ankle was completely ripped in half just 10 months before he started playing again. He will come back and put up numbers around his career average for the next 5 years. I can see him batting .270, with 40+ doubles and 10+ HRs…and that is going to be as good as you will find on the free agent market for shortstops! Let the bidding begin!
40 million? lol damn….that is wayyyyyyyyy to much for Drew lol
Agree but it is a thin market
1 year at 3-4 million plus incentives, and Drew enters the market next year hopefully fully healthy, and putting up really good numbers. That’s what Beane and Boras are talking about. It will probably get done. I don’t think Beane is is going to trade for Yuniel Escobar, though he could be acquired rather cheaply. Too much baggage there.
escobar… i would only use his name as a bargaining chip at this point.
Escobar will not come cheaply. Aside from the obvious wrongs that were commited towards the end of the season eye black issue, he is still one of the better defenders out there and is, at the very least average as far as offensive shortstops go. Last year was not great, but it also wasnt the most horrible one I’ve ever seen. His career slash line of .282/.353/.390/.743 is actually pretty good and the guy only just turned 29 years old. If he was actually made available, I’m pretty sure there would be plenty of suiters.
Escobar will come extremely cheap. What are you talking about?
That is one heck of a comeback. I use logic and stats to back up an argument and your response is uh… “what are you talking about”… Thanks for coming out though.
Cool. You can use stats all you want. Logic is he is a cancer in baseball, let alone a new team. Logic says you don’t want a player like him on your team to ruin the clubhouse. Logic says that means discount.
Actually, logic would state that in an extremely thin marketplace for shortstops, the few good ones available will garner a premium return. Logic states that unless you are in the clubhouse, you have zero knowledge of what type of affect Yunel would have on said clubhouse. Logic states that your argument is full of holes and you have zero idea what you’re talking about. Logic states you should be more well prepared to argue without simply trolling for the sake of response. But hey, what would I know about logic right?
Nothing. Come back to this thread once Yunel is traded for peanuts. You will learn something that day.
Don’t think that he wouldnt fetch at least a middle of the rotation pitcher or is used to get prospects in a 3 way that would be flipped for a #2 type starter.
The A’s will not grab Escobar. He is not the right piece for the A’s. If the A’s don’t get Drew i see this making a trade to get one. He is a head case and they don’t need to ruin the chemistry they have.
Escobar does not fit with the type of clubhouse the A’s have. They will pass on him just like they did during the trade deadline this year.
Oh, I see. You must work inside the the A’s club house. Is that you Billy? Anyways. Escobar, better defence and similar offence and less injury prone to Drew for half the price and signed longer term.
1) It’s defense. 2) It’s offense. 3) Is it only people inside the clubhouse that saw him make that really smart move with the eyeblack?
There’s no reason to sign Drew when they have Grant Green ready in the wings. How much more seasoning does this guy need?
Grant Green was moved from SS about 1.5 seasons ago. They’re trying him at second, and OF… I wish they’d give him a look at third because we could use help there too.
Most likely Addison Russell is going to be the replacement at SS if all things go well. Problem is, he’s 18 and was drafted out of HS. He tore up the AFL, so hopefully he keeps going and can come up in a year or two. Green’s hitting well in AAA but he just needs to lock down a position.
I hope they don’t bring him up to play second, I’d hate for them to give up on Weeks so soon. Drew would make sense on a 1 or 2 year deal with maybe a stop gap between if Russell needs another season in the minors. (a lot of assuming that russell will be successful but so far he has lived up to the hype)
Very solid response, I wasn’t aware of the switch. I agree on the issue of Weeks though. He has considerable talent, so Green’s switch is even more baffling.
Weeks may have raw talent (speed) but he’s not a good baseball player. His speed doesn’t translate into stolen bases very well and he was just awful at the plate last year. Jemile Weeks stubbornly swung for the fences, not using his natural abilities. He’s also very average at 2nd base. Green and Sizemore will fight it out for the second base job.
I agree with you somewhat, but considering how well he hit once sent back down to AAA, and how well he did his rookie year, I’d hate to have them give up on a first round pick so early. If they keep him at AAA and bring up Green i’m fine with that… I just wish it would work out with green at third, and weeks at second. I like sizemore but let’s be serious here, he isn’t a future star imo… green and weeks both could be great players.
I think Weeks can take the position away if he has a good spring. I like Sizemore but you are right he is not the future at 2b. I think Weeks will get back to form this year and it will be another solid platoon for the team.
Agree 100%
Everyone keeps saying Grant Green is going to be the starting SS if we lose Drew. That will not happen. Green’s defense is so bad they tried to move him to the OF. We will gain a SS weither its Drew or trading for one. Green will just become a platoon player just like the A’s have at about every position. Drew could come back for 1 year 8 mill? No one will overpay for him. If Boston wants to pay 40 mill dollars for a batter that is injury prone and is coming off a good 2nd half then so be it lol Oh hey Boston fans how is Bailey doing? Ryan Sweeney? Lmao
you had better sign drew the best short stop you,ve hand in 20 years, you are the n,as and theres no one kicking down the
door to play there
Um Tejada? That was only about 10 years ago.