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.
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 Post-Gazette is reporting that all the market value craziness might benefit the Pirates. When pigs fly, you say?
Anyway, the article mentions that the Pirates front office had considered acquiring Adam Dunn. That tidbit sent Pirate bloggers into overdrive —
Honest Wagner said that if the Pirates got Dunn he ‘would become the team’s best or second-best hitter‘, I suppose forgetting that Sanchez and Bay were on the same roster. At Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke Pirate blog, Pat said Dunn ‘would look awfully nice protecting Jason Bay’, but possibly forgetting Dunn NEEDS protection – he doesn’t offer much, especially playing at PNC Park.
My take? I said the same thing I said back at the July trade deadline in 2006 – we don’t need a $10m Adam Dunn to whiff all year for us. What did you expect me to say? hehe
Dan Perry at Fox Sports talks about how the Cardinals have a great deal of work to do now to compete in 2007.
Humbly I report that a list has finally come out that does not include anyone from Pittsburgh – The Goggle Gang by Bill Madden at the New York Daily News.
And yes Jeff, the Brewers getting rid of Davis for Estrada was a great move – I agree.
By Jake at Bucco Blog
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 Jr. The idea is that whoever says yes first gets the deal. What if both say yes? I don’t know how that works. As McCovey Chronicles points out, Pierre doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on a team that already has Randy Winn.
Did you know that according to Bill James, Pierre has a 29% chance at reaching 3,000 hits? If this causes players like Pierre to be considered for the Hall, I think we need to change the 3,000 hit standard. Same goes for 500 HRs.
In addition, Brian Sabean is already talking to the agents for Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee. Word from this same article is that the Giants may bid for Kei Igawa and haven’t had significant talks with Ray Durham yet.
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 it’s just speculation right now, could the Jays get involved? The Cubs are committed to Jacque Jones in right field, so perhaps Drew would take his brittle body to center. The Red Sox would have to do something with Coco Crisp or Wily Mo Pena to make it fit.
Drew will be 31 next season; can Scott Boras squeeze any more than four years out of anyone? It seems unlikely. Perhaps, though, a team would pay extra to keep the commitment smaller.
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, Ivan Rodriguez, and Magglio Ordonez in the past.
UPDATE: The Red Sox may have made Drew an offer right out of the gate.
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.