MLB Rumors: Scouts believe Stephen Drew’s best fit is with New York Yankees

It appears that a job might have finally opened up for free agent shortstop Stephen Drew this weekend. The Detroit Tigers are grappling with the bad news that they might be without Jose Iglecias for most of, if not the entire 2013 season.

It was not surprising then, that rumors linked Drew to the Tigers almost immediately. But is it possible that Detroit still is not the best fit for Drew? Some scouts and executives still believe Drew would be better served with another American League team, the New York Yankees (per Nick Cafardo).

"There are scouts and front office people who feel the best fit for Stephen Drew is the Yankees. With the short porch for a lefthanded pull hitter “he could hit 20 home runs there,” said one American League East adviser. With Derek Jeter retiring after this season and the injury-plagued Brian Roberts at second base, the feeling is they could get Drew at-bats at shortstop, DH, and second base, and then have him take over shortstop next season. One major concern for the Yankees has to be the range of their infield, which Drew could improve.”"

There is also the likely scenario that the Yankees lose one or both of those veterans to injury for extended periods of time, something that will only magnify the team’s needs in an already thin infield. The length of a potential deal could also point Drew in the direction of the Yankees and not the Tigers, as ESPN’s Karl Ravech notes:

Of course these rumors only go so far if the Yankees do not express interest in Drew, which to date has been the case. It still seems more likely that he and Tigers end up together, even if there was a better fit out there all along.