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The Mets need an upgrade at shortstop and one of the game's best just became available.
Stephen Drew has always had a lot of potential, but he's struggled to live up to that potential, often due to injury. Last winter he signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox, and it worked out for both sides. The 30-year-old shortstop played 124 games with Boston and hit for a .776 OPS while playing plus defense.Drew was rewarded for his service with a qualifying offer worth $14.1 million, but he and agent Scott Boras chose to reject it in favor of a possible multi-year deal. Such a deal is reportedly on the table from more than one club.
A baseball source said Tuesday that shortstop Stephen Drew will not return to the Red Sox because there are a number of teams willing to make multiyear offers for his services beyond anything Boston would do.
Could the Mets be one of Drew's suitors? Maybe. We've heard a lot about how the Amazins are a good fit for Jhonny Peralta, and Drew is an interesting alternative. He's a better defender then Peralta, but has less pop in his bat. Drew comes with the risk of injury, while Peralta comes with the risk associated with PED users. Signing Drew would also come with the additional cost of New York's second round draft pick.
Whichever route you prefer, it remains a near certainty that the Mets will do something to address their shortstop problem this winter after a lost season from Ruben Tejada in 2013.