The New York Yankees have acquired Boston Red Sox shortstop Stephen Drew before the trade deadline on Thursday, reports Buster Olney of ESPN. Boston will receive utility man Kelly Johnson in the deal, per WEEI's Alex Speier, making it a swap of veterans by the AL East rivals. The Yankees have also picked up $500,000 in Red Sox dollars according to Mark Feinsand.
Stephen Drew, cash traded to Yankees for Kelly Johnson
The Yankees and Red Sox have swapped veterans before the trade deadline, with Stephen Drew and Kelly Johnson trading uniforms.
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Drew, signed to a one-year deal in mid-May, has had a rough year with the Red Sox. He’s shown signs of life over the past couple weeks, however, batting .255/.386/.489 over 57 plate appearances since July 10. The 31-year-old was abysmal before that, so his overall line on the year sits at .176/.255/.328.
In New York, he'll presumably back up Derek Jeter over the next two-plus months, allowing the shortstop to get some extra rest whenever possible. He could also be a potential option for 2015 if he impresses, as he's set to hit free agency and could likely be re-signed at an affordable rate.
Johnson has played a number of positions for the Yankees this season, primarily getting reps at third base. Over 227 plate appearances, he’s batted .219/.304/.373 with six home runs. He’ll presumably give the Red Sox a solid bench player who can offer some power and versatility for the rest of the season.
★★★
In acquiring Drew, the Yankees get a replacement for the much-derided Brian Roberts, who aside from a decent May (.267/.315/.430) has confirmed that five years of injuries and aging (there are few 36-year-old second basemen who do much of anything -- it’s a tough position) have rendered him a moot proposition. He’s hitting .237/.300/.360 (85 OPS+) and though he’s been solid on the fielding job, has mostly served to remind what a great player he used to be. He was officially designated for assignment after the trade was consummated.
Drew will also give the Yankees a more potent alternative to Derek Jeter should Carlos Beltran ever be healthy enough to play the field again. Not that Jeter should be listed at designated hitter any time soon. The Great Man has been very consistent this year with his hitting, which is shortstop-like in the classic, not Jeter sense of the term. Defensively, he’s been about what you would expect a 40-year-old shortstop to be, which is to say about the same as he’s always been. As great as the farewell tour has no doubt been for the Yankees’ coffers, the less Jeter the better.
Jeter has ensured that problem will take care of itself next year, by which time Drew will presumably have been signed to an extension and will provide something like continuity, if not an upgrade, on the position. In the meantime, he’s never played a defensive inning anywhere but shortstop, so look out. But hey, it’s the Yankees, so little technical matters like that aren’t a consideration. -- Steven Goldman
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