Stephen Drew requests opt-out after one year
By Matt Fisher
A free agent is requesting an opt-out clause after the first year of a contract he hasn’t signed or been offered yet.
That’s what Adam Rubin of ESPN New York is writing about shortstop Stephen Drew. Drew, who is represented by Scott Boras, apparently seeks a multi-year deal but with the potential to get out of the contract after the first fulfilled year. Rubin writes the piece in relation to the New York Mets’ interest in the almost-31-year old.
"That’s not going to fly with the Mets, who otherwise still remain in play for the free-agent shortstop…that’s a deal-breaker for the Mets, apparently. That’s because Drew could again enter free agency after a good season in 2013."
This could be Boras’ way of combating the draft-pick compensation rule that he has been known to be vehemently against. After a 2013 with the World Champion Red Sox, in which he batted .253 in 124 games, Drew turned down the 1-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer. Any other team that signs Stephen would have to sacrifice their first-round pick (or in the Mets’ case, since their first pick is protected and they have already given up two picks by signing Curtis Granderson and Bartolo Colon, their fourth pick) in the draft. In the postseason, Drew proved a defensive asset but an offensive liability, hitting under .200 during the Red Sox’ October run.
If Drew and Boras stick to their guns about wanting a first year opt-out, the market could change drastically for him.