The Mets have made an offer to free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew, according to a report from WFAN's Mike Francesa.
Stephen Drew rumors: Mets make offer to free agent SS
Stephen Drew might be in the process of finally finding a home with the Mets.
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Drew has been patiently waiting out the free-agent market this winter after he declined a qualifying offer from the Red Sox in November. The 30-year-old shortstop has been linked with the Mets throughout the offseason, though the team has shown no concrete interest in Drew up until now. Just last Thursday, in fact, Mets GM Sandy Alderson told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo that the team was unlikely to sign Drew.
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“It’s the number of years. They’re fighting over the number of years,” Francesa said on WFAN. “I know they have made him an offer.”
Despite Francesa’s report, however, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that the Mets had made no offer to Drew as of yet.
Drew has been searching for a multi-year contract all offseason, but with draft pick compensation attachd to him, few teams had shown an interest in the eight-year veteran.
After playing in just 79 games in 2012, Drew had a bounce-back season in Boston last year, appearing in 124 games and batting .253/.333/.443. Drew also hit 13 home runs and added 67 RBI, while playing solid defense at shortstop for the Red Sox.
Despite hoping to cash in on his productive 2013 campaign, Drew's suitors have been few and far between after the Cardinals locked up the offseason's other top shortstop, Jhonny Peralta, to a four-year deal in November. There has been speculation throughout the winter that Drew might just return to the Red Sox, who of course, wouldn't have to surrender a draft pick.
But Drew and his agent, Scott Boras, have been patient, refusing to give in to any thoughts of a one-year deal. For their part, the Mets would only have to surrender a third-round pick, as their first-round selection is protected for falling inside the top 10. The Mets already surrendered their second-round pick earlier this offseason when they signed Curtis Granderson to a four-year deal
That would make Drew far more intriguing to the Mets than other potential suitors, and there is little doubting the team could use an upgrade at shortstop. The Mets played a combination of Ruben Tejada, Omar Quintanilla, and Justin Turner at the position in 2013, and none proved particularly effective.
Whether the Mets have actually made Drew an offer remains to be seen. The 30-year-old is one of the best position players left on the market, and judging by the conflicting reports on Tuesday, he might finally be drawing some interest even if an official offer has yet to be made.
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