Should The Red Sox Re-Sign J.D. Drew?
By Brian Phair
Over the years, J.D. Drew has become a polarizing figure in the Boston. Some people like him, but most hate him and think he is overpaid and a waste of a player. Drew seemingly has the most even-keel personality anyone has ever seen, not showing emotion after a homerun or great play, which tends to anger a passionate fan-base. I think I may have seen him smile once after the Red Sox won the World Series in 2007, but I can’t say for sure. It was so quick, I barely caught it. In a market where millions of fans have players under the microscope, Drew has failed to impress or excite approximately 99% of fans. He has left a trail of distaste in his previous stops as well, but are his numbers on the field worthy of a new contract after the 2011 season? Let’s explore…
Since arriving in Boston in 2007, Drew has had solid numbers almost across the board. He has hit .270 with 76 home runs and has drawn 300 walks. One of the issues people have with Drew is his uncanny ability to strikeout a ton and in 4 seasons, he has racked up 394 punch-outs. The other issue for fans has been Drew’s mysterious health problems, forcing him to sit often. For me, this is what aggravates me the most. If Drew was playing 150+ games a season with the numbers he has, I wouldn’t be too upset or concerned, but he has averaged just 131 games a season the past 4 years, sitting games out for vertigo and random soreness and exhaustion in every part of his body. Now I am not discounting vertigo as a real issue, he just sits out so often and for such random things that it is hard to take him seriously when he really does need a rest.
If Drew were to play more of the season, let’s say 20 more games on average, his numbers would be much more impressive. He would likely bump his 19-home run per year mark to 22 or so and his RBI total would likely jump from a rather pathetic 66 average to 75+. Regardless of who the player is, a .270, 22 home run, 75+ RBI guy is a nice asset on an already strong offensive team. Besides the numbers, there is the issue of his contract size and length.
In his final year in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, Drew made $11.4 million. An impressive number, but he hit .283 with 20 home runs in 146 games, so it wasn’t horribly off-kilter. Then, the Red Sox decided to pay Drew $14 million and offer the then 31-year old a 5-year deal. After the deal was accepted, there was an issue with Drew’s physical, but the Red Sox decided to complete the deal anyways. Apparently Drew was subconsciously giving the Red Sox an opportunity to realize his real value and back out at the last minute. Hind-sight is 20-20. If Drew was making a smaller contract, the fan impression of him might be slightly better, but either way, he seems to be on his way out after 2011.
Now with the addition of Carl Crawford and the line of impressive young outfielders waiting in Pawtucket, I highly doubt we will see J.D. Drew suit up for the Sox after 2011 and honestly, if anyone will take his contract, we may see him leave before the end of the season. That’s if any other team is so desperate for an outfielder that they will pay the remainder of his $14 million deal. I would love to see Ryan Kalish in right-field next season, along with Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury. Kalish has supreme potential and has a better chance of a) being liked and b) playing 150+ games in a season. Hell, Kalish is already more liked in Boston than J.D. Drew and he only played in 53 games last season. He also has shown an ability to hit for power and play strong defensively.
Red Sox management already knows they want to go in a different direction in 2012, because if they don’t and decide to re-sign Drew, there will be an angry mob at Theo Epstein’s door. Personally, I think Drew had no chance in Boston, but wasn’t a bad player throughout his tenure here, at least when he was actually on the field.
Now that you know my thoughts, what do you think about J.D. Drew‘s future in Boston?