Free agent shortstop Stephen Drew would be willing to negotiate a one-year contract with the Tigers, reports John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press. The belief, according to Lowe, is that Drew would be interested in landing a deal at approximately the same value as the qualifying offer ($14.1MM), but wants to wait to sign until after Opening Day to prevent the possibility of another QO next year.
Of course, speculation about the possibiity of Detroit signing Drew began immediately after the report indicating that incumbent shortstop Jose Iglesias would likely miss most of the season. But Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has said he intends to rely on internal options, and the club just dealt for Andrew Romine to provide another option or platoon piece. It remains to be seen whether the Tigers would be inclined to sacrifice a pick for Drew if they could limit their commitment to one year, but that possiility certainly is an intriguing option for a talented club that has suffered several important recent injuries.
A little late, no?
I would like to see the Jays pick him up if he was still willing to do a 1 yer contract.
I’m sure you would but he would obviously be moving to second base in Toronto. His value will be higher if he hits the market next offseason as a shortstop with no QO so Tigers have the upper hand here.
Not so sure his value will be higher.
A lot of young SS’s coming up shortly, and a lot of veterans will be available.
His value will ABSOLUTELY be higher as a shortstop. That’s just a fact. Whether he ends up playing second or third for someone instead is up for debate. I know about Baez, Correia, Lindor etc.. I also understand supply and demand. His value will still be higher if he plays shortstop (well) this year even if he ends up at second. Their is often a glut of high ceiling shortstops. Lindor will stick at shortstop Correia, Baez, Bogaerts perhaps not.
Rollins, Astrubal, Hardy and Alexi will all be out there, as will whoever Digi replaces. And there are other young players that come up and replace current SS’s.
No, I do not think his value will be higher. The market will be saturated and he’ll have to drop his price to be employed.
Not really right. Basically every shortstop can play 2B, but most 2B tend to be shortstops that couldn’t actually play the position.
His value will be higher as a SS because a SS’s value overlaps to 2B and 3B, so there is actually never actually a surplus
Ahhh that’s true, I was thinking like a fan. He would absolutely be better off in Detroit on a one year deal.
If he’s going to “consider” things like that, he as might as well “consider” signing a $200m contract.
If you’re going to wait to sign opening day, you better expect a fraction of that 14.1 mill to come off if you’re going to have to spend time in the minors for a while.
So he wants Detroit to not only give up a draft pick, but also forfeit any right to recoup one for _next_ season. Okay. Got it.
Have you noticed that when Detroit trades for Romine, Drew suddenly sees his opportunity to sign a long-term deal vanishing out the window with Detroit, so now he says ok, a one-year deal but on my terms. You pay me 14.1M, you give up the 23rd selection in the draft, you lose all compensation, since I refuse to sign until after the season starts, and you play me at short, so at the end of the season, I can sign a big contract with another team and you get nothing. Right, we understand and perhaps sit out the year and then make demands on everyone. Typical Boras management. Teams do all the giving and he takes all the taking like usual.
A Drew would never sit out a year!
I guess the Tigers know what we know here. If they are intelligent enough, they would sign him only after the draft (early June) when draft pick compensation is not an issue no more. That way, is a win-win business for both parts: Drew would be free agent again next winter without draft pick compensation hurting his market
Plus they’d be signing a guy that hasn’t been in Spring Training and is a significant injury concern.
What a deal!
Plus Drew is thinking, “Well, if I go to Detroit, I won’t have to face their pitching staff… so my numbers would be better in ’14, and I’d get a better contract after the season.” Smart way of thinking, but as a Tiger fan, I say “NO!!!!!!!!”
Some players available with the #23 pick in previous years:
Castellanos, Trout, Porcello.
That pick is worth a lot. (though you have to be lucky too).
A reasonable counter offer would be 1 year, $5MM.
How noble of him. He’s willing to “accept” 14M on a 1yr deal to go play for the team that’s favored to win the WS this year AND they have to cough up their 1st round draft pick to sign him AND they can’t offer him arb after the season is over.
Just when you thought you couldn’t despise Boras or his clients any more than you already do, one of them goes and does this. Unreal.
It would be a real shame if this guy lost ALL of his money, got permanently injured and had to go get a real job. I’d cry for 7 seconds over that loss. This guy is climbing the “rotten” ladder pretty quickly and will be in Patrick Ewing and Latrell Sprewell territory here any minute now if he’s not careful.
What’s wrong with Ewing? I’m pretty sure 56 million would be enough to “feed his family.”
Favored to win the world series?
I remember reading somewhere, before the Iglesias injury, that the Tigers were the favorite to win the WS this year. It’s obviously pretty premature at this point, but the point is, the team is pretty solid and does have a legitimate chance at the WS.
Vegas had the Dodgers favored to win the Series and the Tigers had the next best odds last I checked.
Following in the footsteps of his older brother, J.D., lots of talent, but as self-centered and selfish as they come…and of course, both have the same agent, who is ideal for individuals of that ilk.
Not sure they are favored, They have no SS. Their 3Bman in having problems adjusting to 3B. Their LF’er is injured. They lost Fielder and Fister. Hunter and Martinez are 1 year older.
And their bullpen is horrible
Doesn’t he actually have to wait until after the draft to avoid the draft pick compensation?
This year yes. If he waits until after opening day than he can not get the QO next year because he was not on the roster for the entire season
I too would consider a one year 14.1 million dollar contract with Detroit.
I would sign for half that and would be more than willing to let them throw a qualifying offer at me next year.
Something was done here.
Bullpen and left field are both bigger issues for Tigers than shortstop at this point. Romine isn’t much, if any better than what they’ve got now, but they made a decision last year to go with defense first- okay defense only- and get some offense elsewhere. The problem is, where?
I wouldn’t make Drew a QO regardless, but losing a first round pick for a one year rental is even worse than losing a pick for a player on a multi year deal. For the marginal upgrade that they’d get, I would rather pursue Franklin, or Rollins (I know what he said) or if they’re giving up a pick, sign Morales, no glove an all.
You would rather give up a pick for Morales at this point? Shift Cabrera back to third, Castellanos to left and Martinez to first, to open up a spot for Morales? C’mon Man, if you give up the Pick, its for Drew.
Drews options are the tigers or the mets
And the next team to lose their starting SS, and any team interested him in June when he won’t cost a pick
Your totally right on that but my rangers need to have morales, trade moreland to the buccos, and go after jimmy rollins from the philles via trade. The rangers need help and i think they could go after hafner too if they dont want morales
Here’s a biggie.. Is Drew worth 14m on a 1y deal? Sure, Boston offered it up, but knowing with near certainty it would get denied by Boras. Nothing says Ilitch needs to throw Boras a bone.
His 3.4 WAR is worth about 20 million based on this years salary paid for WAR. So yeah, I guess so. Heck, given the nonlinearity of an incremental win, Drew might be worth far that to the Tigers, even with 2 WAR
Tigers are the wannabe be contenders without anything more than replacement options at SS. Its Drew who should not give them the bone.
Drew could take some deferred money since the big thing for him is being able to play SS on a 1 yr deal and no QO next year.
Tigers should not wait. Andruws elbow might have the Rangers after him on a 1 yr deal. Arlington is a nice park to hit in for a LHB;er on a 1 yr deal and might be Drews preference if he has a choice
You can pick up Drew after the draft and you wouldn’t have to give up a draft pick.
Wannabe contenders? Their pitching and Miguel Cabrera says otherwise.
you add a lot of value to these Drew/QO discussions, pft2. Thanks.
Well said Mr. Boras!
Drew is really a 2 WAR player. He only registered above 2 WAR twice in six seasons, and averaged around 2 in that time period.
And honestly, I don’t think he is worth more than 1.5 WAR.
You can cherry pick all you want, but he is closer to a 3 WAR player, WAR is a counting stat and 2 of those 6 years were short years as a result of a single injury. Exclude them and you have 4 years at 11.7 WAR, or 2,9 WAR/yr
I get what you are saying. Detroit is going to hit and score runs, that isn’t in doubt, they also are going to have terrific pitching. Iggy wasn’t going to provide close to the offense (total) he did last year and probably just be the superb glove, plus a tad that many Sox fans hoped he would be. Detroit can better spend 14m on getting a couple of middle relievers during the season that they really need still IMO, rather than a good defensive SS, which Drew is and will hit some vs RH pitchers but then be a liability vs Lefties.
Detroit, even taking out Fielder and adding Kinsler still has one of the best offensive games around. They can just fine someone capable of fielding the position for someone heavy on ground balls, like Porcello and Smyly and get those relievers is what I am thinking.
I’m not cherry picking anything, you are.
150 games played, -0.7 WAR
152 games played, 1.6 WAR
135 games played, 2 WAR
151 games played, 4.1 WAR
124 games played, 3.4 WAR
Total: 10.4
Average: 2
You are cherry picking his two good seasons and ignoring everything else.
Also, if you look at why 2010 and 2013 were good seasons for him, it is from defense. Most of those years he was either average or below average defensively, 2010 and 2013 he was significantly above average defensively. 2009 he was average defensively, hence the 2 WAR. Do you really think he will maintain being significantly above average defensively? I don’t. I think he is closer to 1.5 WAR in true value to a team. Slightly above average offense, slightly below average defense, average overall.
Or he could just accept the qualifying offer for the paltry sum of 15+ million at the end of this season.
Andrew Romine has a career 568 OPS from the left side and 649 OPS from the right side. LOL. World Series here we come
Yes, and 174 total PA’s in his career, LOL. Let’s all pile on a 28 year old kid that’s been a minor league talent. That’s the fun and easy thing to do, right? Give him a break.
28 yo and 174 career PA says it all there. Nothing about him, it’s about a team which hopes to win a championship relying on him.
I hate to break the news to you, but it is only since expansion that players under 25 even play in the majors. For over a hundred years with teams, players didn’t even reach the major leagues until they were 26 – 28, because they weren’t ready. Since expansion, teams rush players to the show and then wonder why so many of them get hurt, tear up their pitching arms and fail as hitters or pitchers. Reason, they never had the opportunity to mature as players. Do you rush a two year old as a car mechanic or do you let them learn their skill, gain experience, and then trust them with a car after they learn their craft? I’m betting that you would trust the 2 year old working on your car, as based on your comments.
The first team I followed was the 67 Red Sox. Most of their players were 22-25. Yaz was an old man at 28, he broke into MLB at age 20-21. Before free agency players made it to MLB very early. Free agency has caused teams to keep their prospects in the minors longer, however, the elite still make it at age 20-22, and the better players come up by 23-25. There are lesser players who do break in at 26-28 but they are lesser players. Most players who have not made it as a regular at age 28 are simply fringe players.
If the Tigers want a minor league journeyman as their SS its all right with me. If they want to win they sign Drew. I know the Indians and Royals are happy the Tigers are giving Drew a pass.
This “news” has the Scott Boras spin written all over it. The agent is looking to save face (much like we just saw with Ervin Santana last week). Problem is that, unlike Santana, most teams don’t believe that Drew is worth $14.1 and losing the 1st round pick and the draft pool dollars that go with it (which means he would cost the Tigers a not insignificant amount more than he would have cost the Red Sox). If he waits until March 31st to sign, it most likely would have to come at a discount from the $14.1MM to compensate for the signing team not getting a QO opportunity in 2015.
This Boras spin doctoring makes me also think that Kendrys Morales may be close to signing with the M’s on a three year deal (making the QO irrelevant). Corey Hart is only with the team for 2014, and Morales has been one the the very most productive hitters that Jack Zduriencik has signed during his tenure.
Logan Morrison can transfer his smart phone account to Tacoma where he can standby (like he’s awaiting his next Twitter post) in hope that he can respond as AAA insurance for Justin Smoak or Corey Hart.
A seller of a unique product or service does not care what most of the a “market” thinks, unless they are looking for a quick sale. They are not Wal-mart with a million widgets to sell. Just need one buyer who values what they have more than others.
Also, do you really think that if Drew gets a QO next year that he passes it up? I don’t. Any team interested in Drew has already written off that possibility.
At the end of the day Boras usually gets his players a decent deal. He is not afraid to wait, and in Drews case that may or may not be until June.
If Drew waits till June he will be faced with competing against other SS who are FA in 2015 on clubs that are out of contention. They have played all season against Major League pitching, while Drew has been just working out. He won’t be ready to face Major League pitching till near the All Star break. I know that time frame seems too soon about being in/out of contention but everyone knows some teams are in that position even before the season starts.
Teams who are in a pennant race won’t trade their starting SS, even if they are a FA next year. If a team not in the race does trade their soon to be FA SS, they lose the chance of getting a compensation pick so they will want more. Teams who need a SS won’t want to give up a prospect to get another SS if they can have Drew for cash. They just have to give him a 3 year deal and keep their pick and prospects.
If I´m the Tigers, I offer a one year 5 MM deal. Nobody will be topping that anytime soon.
The Mets already have a 1/9M and 2/20 on the table and it’s not enough for Boras. That’s why he’s still on the market.
1/$9MM yes. But I don’t believe there’s been any reports of the Mets actually offering 2/$20MM.
He’s not worth 14 Million
Plus, Spring Training is almost over.
Besides, why should the Tigers help him out?
Expensive one year deal. They have to wait until opening day so they don’t have a chance at a QO, they give up a pick, and they have to pay the guy $14.1M. That’s roughly $20M in value for one year of a solid but unspectacular player. I think with Drew it may be heard for we fans to separate our feelings for Boras and his style and what the right decision is. But this seems like a gross overpay.
It does not have to be a 1 yr deal though. I think Iglesias future is very uncertain with those bad pins of his. Make it 3 years and the yearly costs go way down. I bet he takes a 3/30 deal and would sign immediately.
You are still making the assumption that the Tigers are planning to write off or trade Iglesias. I’m not sure that’s true. They may still see this as a one year problem. As for Drew, one year with a qualifying offer makes him more than 3/30. I don’t see Boras giving up an opportunity for another score.
Your assuming the Tigers give him 1/14 and will dare give him a QO next year given Drew would be more likely to take it. Drew of course can not assume he is healthy. An injury kills his market value next year, so he would take less for a 3 yr deal as insurance
Drews trade value is likely enhanced on a 3 yr deal. If Iglesias looks to recover with no problem, they can trade Drew and possibly land a prospect closer to MLB ready than a draft pick. If Drew has a good year his value jumps even more since he did it away from Fenway and his health concerns drop.
Part of me feels as though the Yankees make the most sense. They have already given up the draft picks (not that they really value him anyways) and they already have a hole at 2B/3B…and possibly will have one eventually at SS if Jeter’s recent injury history continues. Not to mention they are already over the luxury tax so that isn’t as much of an issue
Scott Boras can say whatever he wants, but he clearly misread the market for Drew. He had played 100+ games for first time in three years. He left 14 MM over the table by rejecting the Qualified Offer and now he’s begging for a contract. Yeah, Mike Ilich wants the Tigers to win now, but not by surrendering the 23rd selection in the draft pick, just in exchange for the luxury of having Drew playing short stop for one season only
Here’s a radical thought. If I’m Drew, I want to sign a large one year deal, prior to the start of season. I want the possibility of a QO. If I get $14M this year, and a QO, that’s close to $30M for two years, and I can still spin the free agent dial the year afterwards. And if I wait until after the season starts, and the signing team can’t get a pick by making the QO, they may drop their price. Drew quite possibly devalues himself by waiting. And waiting longer, until June, makes less sense. Yes, there’s no picks involved, but the chances are that there aren’t that many teams willing to do multi-year then (assuming their needs came from in-season injuries.) If you wait until June, his prorated contract may mean a real drop in overall salary.
Internal options won’t get them a WS ring.
If Drew was really serious about a one year deal he is too late.
Detroit traded a starting pitcher prospect with Major League experience (Alvarez) to LAA for an infielder who is a switch hitter who will, I suppose, platoon with Worth at Shortstop. Both players I believe are out of options. Drew now expects Detroit to lose all three assets,(Alvarez,Worth and Romine) plus pay $14 mill. He will miss several games in April because he missed all of spring training and doesn’t want to sign till after opening day. They only have 3 bench spots available for infielders or outfielders. Kelly/Davis platoon for left field takes one, Romine/Worth take the second and Steve Lombardozzi is the switch hitting super sub holding on to the third. I can’t believe anyone short of being related to Drew or Borus would believe Drew is worth $14 mill + 3 players and the loss of a draft pick. Total that up with $$$’s and I believe Drew would have to pay Detroit about $5-10 mill to sign him up.
Kinsler used to be a ss; I don’t know why they don’t just try him there.
Castellanos also used to be a SS in high school. Do you want to use him there too?
Wow, way to be snarky. I suggest kinsler because he’s a great second baseman and knew the position extremely well. But try Alex Avila there while you’re at it.
NOT FOR 14 mil. He should of signed that with boston when he had the chance. Since no one has spoke with him that price needs to start at half that and come down from there, period.