New York Yankees are reportedly out of the Stephen Drew sweepstakes

Oct 30, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew (7) throws to first base against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning of game six of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

Remember when Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer earlier in the off-season? Well, since then, he has certainly generated interest, but there is another high-profile team who has bailed on pursuit of the shortstop, and with that, he may be looking for a fall-back option.

Brian Cashman yesterday said Yanks are not signing Stephen Drew. How Sox do pillow contract that isn't shoved down his throat is delicate
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) December 31, 2013

Peter Gammons reports via Twitter that the Yankees will not sign Drew to a contract this off-season, and he also speculates on the possibility of a “pillow” contract from Boston. For the uninitiated, a “pillow” would be a fall-back option for Drew, but because Boston already offered him that $14.1 million deal that he turned out, it becomes an interesting situation for both parties.

On the Yankees side, Drew did make some sense, but with Derek Jeter still in the fold (making insane money, mind you) and Brendan Ryan already signed for 2014 for defensive help (he’s one of the best), there was no diagnosed need. I’m sure that Drew’s representation would have loved to use the Yanks as leverage, but that probably won’t be an effective tool after this latest revelation.

Drew is one of the bigger names still on the market, but he’s almost out of options.

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