Drew on the brink of signing one year deal with Yankees

Despite having acquired Mariekson “Didi” Gregorius in a trade with the Diamondbacks to play shortstop, the Yankees are nearing a $5 million one year deal with Stephen Drew.

The 31-year (32 in March) old shortstop has played a part of the 2014 season with the Yankees after the Yankees acquired him in a trade that sent Kelly Johnson to Boston.

In the few months that Drew played in New York he batted a lowly .176 in 39 games. Drew mainly played at second base and took over at short when Derek Jeter had a day off.

Despite claiming that they would enter Spring Training with Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela battling for a spot at second base, butr apparently they weren’t comfortable with a player with zip MLB experience.

Rob Refsnyder

Jose Pirela

The experts think that the Yankees will use Drew at second base. It could even be that the Yankees signed Drew as a backup at shortstop.

As a fan, I wonder why the Yankees want to go on with a Red Sox reject. Last season he couldn’t hit water if he fell in. and his fielding percentage was only .969 with the Yankees. Over the last three seasons his batting average wasn’t something to write home about. In 2012 he hit .223, in 2013 .253 and in 2014 just .162. Throughout his career he has had several rehab stints in the minors, proving that he is rather injury prone. While the experts are saying that Drew is a superb defensive shortstop, Gregorius did considerably better last year with a fiedling percentage of .983.

I can imagine that the Yankees are looking for some veteran experience but IMO there are better options. You may understand that I am not too happy with this move.