The New York Yankees and free-agent infielder Stephen Drew have agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Yankees to sign Stephen Drew, per report
The Yankees will add to their, um, uninspiring middle infield situation.
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Drew will return to the Yankees after posting a .150/.219/.271 line in 155 plate appearances in the Bronx last season. He was acquired by New York from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline in exchange for Kelly Johnson.
Though he's only a year removed from posting a 111 OPS+ and winning a World Series in Boston, Drew has had only four above-average seasons at the plate in nine years. He spent more time at second base than at shortstop for the first time in his career last season, and he could do that again in 2015 with recently acquired Didi Gregorius currently slated as Derek Jeter's replacement.
Drew joins Gregorius and Brendan Ryan as New York's current middle infield options with any significant big league experience. Those three players finished 2014 with respective OPS+ of 51, 81 and 18. Jose Pirela, a 25-year-old rookie, could also compete for a job. He hit .333/.360/.542 in 25 plate appearances with the Yankees last season after managing a .305/.351/.441 line in his first full Triple-A campaign.
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