Sox Sign Shortstop Stephen Drew to One-Year, $9.5 Million Contract

Oct 9, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop Stephen Drew (5) throws the ball for the out at first base against the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning of game three of the 2012 ALDS at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

John Heyman of CBS Sports reported today that the Red Sox have come to terms with Stephen Drew on a one-year, $9.5 million contract pending a physical.

The 29-year old, signed to provide further depth at a shortstop position sure to be in flux through spring training, comes to Boston from from Oakland where he played after after being traded to Oakland from Arizona mid-way through the 2012 season. Drew played 40 games for the Diamondbacks last season after missing 137 games in 2011 after fracturing his right ankle.

He struggled mightily at plate with the D-Backs early in 2012, hitting just .193 but rebounded nicely once in Oakland, hitting .250 in 172 plate appearances. GM Ben Cherington has said repeatedly that Boston will not go exclusively with an all-glove, no bat shortstop. Current odds on favorite shortstop for opening day, Jose Iglesias, is just such a player. Igelsias is a human vacuum cleaner at short but last year batted just .118 in 68 at bats with the Red Sox.

Drew, who declined a $10 million mutual option with the A’s at the end of 2012 season, leaves a hole in Oakland that the As must now deal with in a dwindling shortstop market.

A historical footnote and perhaps cautionary tale for Red Sox fans, Drew is the younger brother of former Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew.