Look at the entire body of work across the previous years and forget Stephen Drew’s fractured 2014 season? Or was this past year simply too miserable for the Yankees to ignore?
“I would say clubs would spend a good deal of time focusing on his career offensive statistics as opposed to a couple of hundred at-bats,’’ Drew’s agent Scott Boras said Tuesday. “Defensively, he is still elite and a lot of teams will have interest in him as a shortstop.’’
High among the teams with a need for shortstop are the Yankees, who are looking to replace Derek Jeter.
“Everybody knows about the free-agent shortstop market,’’ Boras said. “Clearly, Stephen Drew is the best defensive shortstop and he has pop.’’
Drew isn’t in a very good position for the long-term deal he was searching for a year ago after helping the Red Sox win the World Series. Drew hit .162 (44-for-271) with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 85 total games for the Red Sox and Yankees in 2014 after not participating in spring training and sitting out until June 2 because no free-agent offer was forthcoming until the Red Sox signed him for $10.1 million after the compensation issue expired.
“This year was totally crazy,” Drew said. “I’m looking forward to a normal offseason. But I really like New York. They have something special here. We’ll see how things play out.’’
Wherever Drew lands, he is anticipating a normal spring training.
“I haven’t had a regular spring training in three years. I had the ankle, the concussion and then all the stuff this past year. I haven’t had a normal routine in a while,’’ Drew said. “I had to play the cards I got dealt and make the best of it. This offseason, I can take a step back and prepare for next season the right way. I’m healthy and looking forward to it.’’
Will Drew be preparing to replace Jeter?
“I don’t know who it’s going to be, but whoever it is, you have to realize how special it is to play there and that you’re not Derek,’’ Drew said. “That’s the biggest thing. If you try to be like him — whoever it might be — you’re not him.’’
Perhaps banking on re-establishing Drew’s market value, Boras said: “If it’s a multi-year [deal], I don’t think it would be a long one. I trust this player.’’
Drew, who turns 32 in March, is a career .256 hitter with 97 homers, 442 RBIs and a .747 OPS. That’s why the Yankees and other teams could have interest. He also swung the bat better in the final two weeks of September.
Not having to deal with a long-term, pricey commitment is appealing the Yankees. As is Drew’s familiarity with The Bronx after he played 46 games there this year.
However, the Yankees will scour the free agent and trade markets for Jeter’s replacement.
Hanley Ramirez is viewed as a third baseman by many. Asdrubal Cabrera’s range has diminished. The Blue Jays would have to eat a lot of Jose Reyes’ money (three years, $70 million), and that would look foolish two years after acquiring the former Met. Free agent J.J. Hardy is a viable option, but late-season back issues surfaced. Jed Lowrie is looking for a bounce-back season like Drew. The Rangers would likely listen on Elvis Andrus, who has eight years and $118 million remaining. The Yankees have liked Arizona’s Didi Gregorius.
While the search for Jeter’s replacement is in the very early stages, the process of retaining GM Brian Cashman is ongoing and likely to lead to Cashman’s return.