MLB Rumors: Stephen Drew willing to sign with Detroit Tigers on one-year deal?
By Hayden Kane
The Detroit Tigers traded for a shortstop on Friday. Looking to fill the void left by the injured Jose Iglesias, the team acquired journeyman Andrew Romine from the Los Angeles Angels. So yes, they do technically have another option to play shortstop.
That might not be the end of their search though. And if it’s not, free agent Stephen Drew will be willing to talk. More importantly, he now would be willing to accept a one year deal.
From John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press:
"Veteran free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew is willing to sign a one-year contract with the Tigers, a person familiar with Drew’s thinking said today……By taking a one-year deal, Drew wouldn’t impede Jose Iglesias’ future with the Tigers. Drew could then leave the Tigers as a free agent after this season. Iglesias, who will miss at least most of this season, is expected to be back for the start of next season.This is the first indication that the Tigers could obtain Drew, 31, without signing him to a multi-year deal.”"
This is only logical from Drew, of course. If the Tigers express interest, he could take this one-year deal, get paid, and establish his value for next off-season. Furthermore, if he waited until after Opening Day to sign he would not be subject to this whole qualifying offer conundrum a year from now.
Opening Day, with all the buzz of the regular season finally starting, might just happen to be the moment that the Tigers feel a little extra heat to add a real big league shortstop. Things might work out OK for Drew after all.