Red Sox closing in on JD Drew

[jacksonianmarch]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/11/25/redsox.drew/index.html

 

Speculation is 5yrs 75 million. This would be a very risky signing, but if he stays healthy, he'll be a solid player. Expect the power to drop a bit in the fens though.

[Cocos Disciples]

If it was 5/75, thats too much for Drew. I like him a lot though.

[jacksonianmarch]

i thought the same thing. 4yrs 60 is the most I'd go for him. If he wants 5yrs, he would have to accept 65, not 75.

[BoSox21]

too much money, too many years

 

considering his injury history, I'd love to hear how they justify this but letting Damon walk

 

they probably found an oil reserve under Fenway or something...

[example1]

I imagine they'll justify it by saying that they didn't know the market would get this absurd and they are now forced to pay the prevailing wage for a better than average but slightly-less than all-star caliber player like Damon and Drew. :dunno:

 

It is still very, very steep. I guess their reasoning is that they can't justfy going into another season without the adequate players at every position. Drew will ensure that they're not composed of a hodge-podge in RF at least. Within 5 years there will be a better option there.

[ORS]

I don't see 5/$75M in the article, so I'm skeptical of this "speculation". Sounds like a good cover for, "Numbers I pulled from my rectum". But, given the market lately that wouldn't shock me.

 

The only question that comes to mind in light of this (if true), is, who gets traded, Manny or WMP? And, who are they getting in return? I hope it doesn't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Manny wearing a halo next year with a package including Shields and Aybar coming the Sox way. This would satisfy a couple of big needs and give them a little room to work with salaries.

[a700hitter]

I don't see 5/$75M in the article, so I'm skeptical of this "speculation". Sounds like a good cover for, "Numbers I pulled from my rectum". But, given the market lately that wouldn't shock me.

 

The only question that comes to mind in light of this (if true), is, who gets traded, Manny or WMP? And, who are they getting in return? I hope it doesn't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Manny wearing a halo next year with a package including Shields and Aybar coming the Sox way. This would satisfy a couple of big needs and give them a little room to work with salaries.

Yuk that would suck, but it wouldn't surprise me either.

[example1]

I don't see 5/$75M in the article, so I'm skeptical of this "speculation". Sounds like a good cover for, "Numbers I pulled from my rectum". But, given the market lately that wouldn't shock me.

 

The only question that comes to mind in light of this (if true), is, who gets traded, Manny or WMP? And, who are they getting in return? I hope it doesn't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Manny wearing a halo next year with a package including Shields and Aybar coming the Sox way. This would satisfy a couple of big needs and give them a little room to work with salaries.

 

You think Aybar is good enough to start at SS soon? If so how will a 4 year deal with Lugo work?

 

I'm thinking the sox keep WMP as a RH platoon for Drew who is capable of filling in any of the other positions, OR they trade Manny. Shields would be a nice return, but if its just Shields and one other then I'm demanding Wood, not Aybar.

[a700hitter]

You think Aybar is good enough to start at SS soon? If so how will a 4 year deal with Lugo work?

 

I'm thinking the sox keep WMP as a RH platoon for Drew who is capable of filling in any of the other positions, OR they trade Manny. Shields would be a nice return, but if its just Shields and one other then I'm demanding Wood, not Aybar.

WMP could stay as a 4th OF. With an injury prone Drew and an aging Manny, he'll probably get 350-400 ABs.

[Cityofchampions33]

5 years is a bit above what I would want. Id feel more comfortable with 3 years, and options for the least 2. The money I don't really care, because the luxury tax threshold has gone up. Ifw e do sign him to 5, we're almost certain to run into a problem in his last two years with injury or lack of performance,a nd then he'll sit while we bring up soembody or tarde for someone.

[Gom]

I don't see 5/$75M in the article, so I'm skeptical of this "speculation". Sounds like a good cover for, "Numbers I pulled from my rectum". But, given the market lately that wouldn't shock me.

 

The only question that comes to mind in light of this (if true), is, who gets traded, Manny or WMP? And, who are they getting in return? I hope it doesn't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Manny wearing a halo next year with a package including Shields and Aybar coming the Sox way. This would satisfy a couple of big needs and give them a little room to work with salaries.

 

That would be a dream come true for Yankee fans. Get rid of Manny. Please. LOL!

[TheKilo]

If Drew is such an injury risk, why trade WMP or Manny away? Wouldn't we want a capable 4th OF?

 

Why can't Ortiz play some games at first to let Manny DH and have WMP fill in somewhere?

 

 

 

One more question - Does anyone else doubt Damon would get close to $80-90 million if he was a free agent this year? Not me. I think Damon, in last year's market, got what he was worth. Drew is getting what he's worth, especially in lieu of the Soriano and Lee deals.

[ORS]

I think if they had their way, they'd love to keep both with WMP as the 4th OF. That said, they do need a closer - Shields is ready for that and expendable due to Speier - and a shortstop. My hunch could be way off and they keep both, but they will be close to the LT threshold with the addtion of Matsuzaka and Drew's salaries with an extra OF capable of starting and two holes to fill.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't see 5/$75M in the article, so I'm skeptical of this "speculation". Sounds like a good cover for, "Numbers I pulled from my rectum". But, given the market lately that wouldn't shock me.

 

The only question that comes to mind in light of this (if true), is, who gets traded, Manny or WMP? And, who are they getting in return? I hope it doesn't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Manny wearing a halo next year with a package including Shields and Aybar coming the Sox way. This would satisfy a couple of big needs and give them a little room to work with salaries.

 

It was a rotoworld speculation, I did not pull those numbers out of my ass. They said the last thing they heard was 4yrs 56mil, but that was before the ridiculous Mathews, Soriano, and Lee deals. Their speculation was 5yrs 75mil.

 

As far as how reliable that article was, we shall see. Apparently the globe thinks this is much further from fruition than John Heyman thinks. BTW, it is rather funny how the globe is all about dealing Manny and the herald is all about keeping "the best run producer of the last 50yrs". I find it very interesting as the globe is intermingled in the management of the sox and they are all over the dealing him aspect of this.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think if they had their way' date=' they'd love to keep both with WMP as the 4th OF. That said, they do need a closer - Shields is ready for that and expendable due to Speier - and a shortstop. My hunch could be way off and they keep both, but they will be close to the LT threshold with the addtion of Matsuzaka and Drew's salaries with an extra OF capable of starting and two holes to fill.[/quote']

 

Shields would be a solid reliever in Boston, the only problem is that the angels and sox now dont have a match. With Mathews, they now have a full OF with Rivera in LF, Mathews in CF, Vladdy in RF, and Anderson at DH. So a deal for Manny is unlikely. Also, the angels really value aggressive baserunning, and they seemed like they would only stray from that to get one of the best hitters of our time. I have a feeling they would not be too enamoured with the idea of WMP plodding in the OF and on the bases, especially since they do not have a spot for him.

[a700hitter]

Shields would be a solid reliever in Boston' date=' the only problem is that the angels and sox now dont have a match. With Mathews, they now have a full OF with Rivera in LF, Mathews in CF, Vladdy in RF, and Anderson at DH. So a deal for Manny is unlikely. Also, the angels really value aggressive baserunning, and they seemed like they would only stray from that to get one of the best hitters of our time. I have a feeling they would not be too enamoured with the idea of WMP plodding in the OF and on the bases, especially since they do not have a spot for him.[/quote']Maybe they'll offer Rivera to take Manny's place and Shields. I could live with that since Rivera came into his own last year.

[Papelbon58]

if we are going to sign JD Drew, we might as well keep Trot Nixon. We do not need a right fielder. We need to let Wily Mo mature

[Rdsxmbnt]

what exactly does Trot do for us?

[a700hitter]

what exactly does Trot do for us?

Save us $10 million this year and keeps us from committing to $60-75 million. If Trot can play 120 games platooning with WMP how much worse will his stats be compared to Drew who averages 118 games?

[Papelbon58]

exactly, the same thing Drew does, not much. He is injured too much. Wily Mo has the potential to put up essentially the same numbers as Drew if he is a consistent starter

[Cityofchampions33]

Maybe they'll offer Rivera to take Manny's place and Shields. I could live with that since Rivera came into his own last year.

 

Yeah Rivera's really taken off, he would be a good catch if we could get him.

[riverside sluggers]

exactly' date=' the same thing Drew does, not much. He is injured too much. Wily Mo has the potential to put up essentially the same numbers as Drew if he is a consistent starter[/quote']

 

Drew's injuries of late have been bad luck, not injury prone. Last 3 times he's gone to the DL was due to being hit by a pitch at a certain place. Saying that Trot & JD Drew are the exact same player is ludicrous.

 

EDIT: I have long been a supporter of Wily Mo's. This post is just reflecting on today's comparison of the above mentioned players.

[Papelbon58]

I'm not saying Drew is not better than Trot or Wily Mo, but the fact is Drew is only going to give us 3 seasons, and he will probably be in decline. Wily Mo is coming up, and with consistent playing time, which he has not gotten, could move into Drew's category. Bringing in Drew is just another hinderance to the development of Wily Mo, a short term fix.

[Rdsxmbnt]

I'm not saying Drew is not better than Trot or Wily Mo' date=' but the fact is Drew is only going to give us 3 seasons, and he will probably be in decline. Wily Mo is coming up, and with consistent playing time, which he has not gotten, could move into Drew's category. Bringing in Drew is just another hinderance to the development of Wily Mo, a short term fix.[/quote']

 

how would you have any idea that hes only going to give us 3 seasons?

 

Drew >> than a Wily Mo/Nixon platoon. Its not even close, we need to upgrade the #5 spot in the lineup and neither Wily Mo or Nixon can adequetely (sp?) protect Manny hitting in the #5 spot. Adding Drew represents a massive upgrade along with good defense for once in RF. I like Wily Mo and wouldnt mind keeping him as a 4th OF (or a CF and trade Crisp) but I wouldnt hesitate to trade Wily Mo for a proven CL or SS.

[TheKilo]

Trot Nixon wishes he could have seasons like JD Drew.

 

Trot Nixon, in his best years, put up OPS+'s of 129 (2001), 149 (in an injury shortened 2003), and 123 in 2004. His career OPS+ is 117.

 

JD Drew, in his best years, put up OPS+'s of 162 (2001), 158 (2004), and 122 (2000). His career OPS+ is 133.

[a700hitter]

Trot Nixon wishes he could have seasons like JD Drew.

 

Trot Nixon, in his best years, put up OPS+'s of 129 (2001), 149 (in an injury shortened 2003), and 123 in 2004. His career OPS+ is 117.

 

JD Drew, in his best years, put up OPS+'s of 162 (2001), 158 (2004), and 122 (2000). His career OPS+ is 133.

But is the difference worth an additional $10 million in 2007 and a commitment for $60-70 million over the next 5 years. I'm not a big budget conscious guy, but is 118 games from Drew per year worth the difference in performance?

[Rdsxmbnt]

You just took Drews entire career average of games per year and said thats how much we are going to get each season. Look at his last 3 years and yes he missed significant time in 05 but not from injuries we should have to worry about moving forward. If we got Drew for 140-150 games a year it represents a huge upgrade over Pena. If you go by win shares and say Pena puts up similar numbers as last year(unlikely that he'd sustain that over a full season at this point in his career, but Ill give him the benefit of a doubt) and say Drew puts up similar numbers as last year, a year of Drew is probaly a 7-8 win upgrade over Pena. Thats huge, our offense flounders at times because of a lack of a good option behind Manny and Ortiz, and Pena just isnt ready to shoulder the load of protecting Manny Ramirez.

[a700hitter]

You just took Drews entire career average of games per year and said thats how much we are going to get each season. Look at his last 3 years and yes he missed significant time in 05 but not from injuries we should have to worry about moving forward. If we got Drew for 140-150 games a year it represents a huge upgrade over Pena. If you go by win shares and say Pena puts up similar numbers as last year(unlikely that he'd sustain that over a full season at this point in his career' date=' but Ill give him the benefit of a doubt) and say Drew puts up similar numbers as last year, a year of Drew is probaly a 7-8 win upgrade over Pena. Thats huge, our offense flounders at times because of a lack of a good option behind Manny and Ortiz, and Pena just isnt ready to shoulder the load of protecting Manny Ramirez.[/quote']Is he worth the additional $ commitment? I am acknowledging that he is better than Trot.

[TheKilo]

But is the difference worth an additional $10 million in 2007 and a commitment for $60-70 million over the next 5 years. I'm not a big budget conscious guy' date=' but is 118 games from Drew per year worth the difference in performance?[/quote']

 

 

 

Drew's recent injury hostory has been more of a fluke type thing than a nagging persistent injury thing.

 

I think the additional money is defeinitely worth it if Drew plays in 140+ games.

[a700hitter]

Drew's recent injury hostory has been more of a fluke type thing than a nagging persistent injury thing.

 

I think the additional money is defeinitely worth it if Drew plays in 140+ games.

...and if he plays 115 games?