Re-signing Stephen Drew still plausible for Boston Red Sox?
By Bryan Rose
While the Boston Red Sox have shortstop of the future Xander Bogaerts on the roster, they still might not be completely comfortable giving Bogaerts full reign over the position just yet. They already expressed interest in retaining shortstop Stephen Drew, but the veteran became quite the hot name as free agency kicked off and it appeared that Drew would leave for greener pastures as the Red Sox weren’t interested in committing overly long term.
Boston did offer Drew a $14.1 qualifying offer for one season, but Drew declined as he was hoping to secure a multi-year deal.
However, with some of his most interested suitors (the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees) seemingly moving on, Drew’s options have dwindled in recent weeks and a reunion with the Red Sox isn’t out of the question:
"The biggest impediment to rejoining the Red Sox would be pride. Drew’s not getting $14 million from Boston in 2014, and he’s probably not getting a two-year deal, either. If the Red Sox wanted to help Drew save face by guaranteeing not to tender him next year, they couldn’t do so in writing, because it’s against the rules.There is precedence for such a return, however. After the 2008 season, the Red Sox offered catcher Jason Varitek arbitration. The captain and his agent — Boras — declined a one-year deal that would’ve probably been worth $11 million, to try their hand at free agency."
If Drew can’t secure a long term deal, there’s really little reason to leave Boston as he’ll be paid handsomely and will have a starting position on a World Championship team.