Boston writer speculates that Cubs interested in JD Drew

[rocket]

J.D. Drew a good fit with Cubs?

 

Sunday, Nov 4, 2007 8:34 am EST

J.D. Drew

 

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The Boston Globe reported the Chicago Cubs could use a lefthanded-hitting right fielder who can play defense and get on base. Can you say, J.D. Drew?

 

The Cubs may also look for a center fielder if they don't commit to Felix Pie.

 

Source: The Boston Globe

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/J-D-Drew-a-good-fit-with-Cubs-?urn=mlb,52283

[CUBZ99]

Sounds like too much speculation. Drew is not a Hendry type player.

[cbbryan]

If the Cubs were to pick up Drew, they should absolutely commit to Pie. I think they should anyway, but if they sign/trade a big bat this offseason Pie should get the nod in CF everyday.

[NewUserName]

How many more years does he have on his contract? I think he would do ok. But not 15 million a yr ok for several more years

[Guest]

The Red Sox better be picking up a decent chunk of that contract.

[Butterscup1679666578]

If the Cubs were to pick up Drew, they should absolutely commit to Pie. I think they should anyway, but if they sign/trade a big bat this offseason Pie should get the nod in CF everyday.

 

Agreed. If you can add a big offensive bat (whether it be Drew or A-Rod or Fukudome), you can get by with letting Felix bat eighth and develop. You'd be able to let him make mistakes and learn the game because you've added more quality hitters to your lineup.

 

 

In terms of Drew's contract, he signed for 5/70 last year. I don't know how it is distributed though.

[HoopsCubs]

How many more years does he have on his contract? I think he would do ok. But not 15 million a yr ok for several more years

 

4 years and $56M left on his deal - flat $14M per season . Boston (or a trading team) does have some opt out options if Drew is on the DL for an extended time due to his shoulder.

 

Personally, I would pass.

Edited November 4, 2007 by HoopsCubs

[Southpaw191679666239]

Did I miss something and time-warp back to last year's offseason?

[Guest]

If the Cubs were to pick up Drew, they should absolutely commit to Pie. I think they should anyway, but if they sign/trade a big bat this offseason Pie should get the nod in CF everyday.

 

Agreed. If you can add a big offensive bat (whether it be Drew or A-Rod or Fukudome), you can get by with letting Felix bat eighth and develop. You'd be able to let him make mistakes and learn the game because you've added more quality hitters to your lineup.

 

 

In terms of Drew's contract, he signed for 5/70 last year. I don't know how it is distributed though.

 

Evenly at $14M per year.

[YearofDaCubs]

If we are taking risks on player like Burnitz, FLoyd and other has been veterans I would take a risk on Drew if Boston coughs up at least 2 mil.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

What other options do the Red Sox have in RF? I imagine they'll stick Ellsbury in CF and of course leave Manny in left. I guess I don't quite get why Drew's name is being brought up aside from the fact that yes, he is a RF (and yes, the Cubs happen to need one). Seems to be about the end of that connection.

[shnsajax]

Do they take the rest of Marquis contract as a result. I'm fine with his contract if they take that one off our hands.

[rocket]

What other options do the Red Sox have in RF? I imagine they'll stick Ellsbury in CF and of course leave Manny in left. I guess I don't quite get why Drew's name is being brought up aside from the fact that yes, he is a RF (and yes, the Cubs happen to need one). Seems to be about the end of that connection.

 

it's probably just due to writers hating jd drew's complete lack of gritfactor and his hatred of the game of baseball.

[CuseCubFan69]

Did I miss something and time-warp back to last year's offseason?

 

Jose Vidro for second?

 

I think if this is true that the Sox would want Murton back and if they took Marquis this might work.

[biittner77]

How about Jones and Marquis for Drew in a sort of salary dump type trade for the Sox? Jones is not ideal but he's a decent complementary player in a lineup that is already stacked. They could probably flip Marquis somewhere else or use him in long relief. The Sox would also save having to pay the last 3 years of Drew's contract.

[CuseCubFan69]

How about Jones and Marquis for Drew in a sort of salary dump type trade for the Sox? Jones is not ideal but he's a decent complementary player in a lineup that is already stacked. They could probably flip Marquis somewhere else or use him in long relief. The Sox would also save having to pay the last 3 years of Drew's contract.

 

I'd do that in a second but I don't think that the Sox would.

[Tracer Bullet]

How about Jones and Marquis for Drew in a sort of salary dump type trade for the Sox? Jones is not ideal but he's a decent complementary player in a lineup that is already stacked. They could probably flip Marquis somewhere else or use him in long relief. The Sox would also save having to pay the last 3 years of Drew's contract.

 

I realize the Sox didn't exactly get what they were hoping for, in terms of power production, out of Drew. But they won the WS with him and his .373 OBP in the lineup. Like last year, I think Drew would be a great fit for the Cubs (esp if he could play CF) - I wanted him more than Soriano. But I don't see the Sox eager to deal that OBP for Jones and Marquis. Maybe they take Murton for him, but I'm not really sure I'd want to do that deal (why add all the extra salary for the same OPS, even if Drew is "proven") and I don't know that Theo is going to want to either. What's the benefit to the Sox of having Jones and his 5 HR and .335 OBP replace JD Drew?

[CubinNY]

How about Jones and Marquis for Drew in a sort of salary dump type trade for the Sox? Jones is not ideal but he's a decent complementary player in a lineup that is already stacked. They could probably flip Marquis somewhere else or use him in long relief. The Sox would also save having to pay the last 3 years of Drew's contract.

 

I realize the Sox didn't exactly get what they were hoping for, in terms of power production, out of Drew. But they won the WS with him and his .373 OBP in the lineup. Like last year, I think Drew would be a great fit for the Cubs (esp if he could play CF) - I wanted him more than Soriano. But I don't see the Sox eager to deal that OBP for Jones and Marquis. Maybe they take Murton for him, but I'm not really sure I'd want to do that deal (why add all the extra salary for the same OPS, even if Drew is "proven") and I don't know that Theo is going to want to either. What's the benefit to the Sox of having Jones and his 5 HR and .335 OBP replace JD Drew?

The Cubs might as well trade Murton for a player that they will play, becuase they don't seem to want to play him.

 

JD Drew is exactly what the Cubs need. However, I see little reason why Boston would trade him and I think he also has a NTC (but I'm not sure).

[jersey cubs fan]

How about Jones and Marquis for Drew in a sort of salary dump type trade for the Sox? Jones is not ideal but he's a decent complementary player in a lineup that is already stacked. They could probably flip Marquis somewhere else or use him in long relief. The Sox would also save having to pay the last 3 years of Drew's contract.

 

I realize the Sox didn't exactly get what they were hoping for, in terms of power production, out of Drew. But they won the WS with him and his .373 OBP in the lineup. Like last year, I think Drew would be a great fit for the Cubs (esp if he could play CF) - I wanted him more than Soriano. But I don't see the Sox eager to deal that OBP for Jones and Marquis. Maybe they take Murton for him, but I'm not really sure I'd want to do that deal (why add all the extra salary for the same OPS, even if Drew is "proven") and I don't know that Theo is going to want to either. What's the benefit to the Sox of having Jones and his 5 HR and .335 OBP replace JD Drew?

 

The WS win healed a bunch of wounds, but Boston was extremely harsh on JD this year, and I suspect they will go back to treating him the same way next season if he isn't great. Signing JD to a big longterm contract is a risk for any team, and if you can get one healthy season with a WS ring out of him, you might be justified in strongly considering a trade. My guess is Theo won't be interested, because no team is going to eat the whole contract and give fair value. They will be able to keep him without too much fan pressure to get rid of him, thanks to the ring.

 

As for the Cubs, if they did get him, Murton is actually the type of player they'd need to keep around in case of injury and for the rest days.

[KingCubsFan]

How about Jones and Marquis for Drew in a sort of salary dump type trade for the Sox? Jones is not ideal but he's a decent complementary player in a lineup that is already stacked. They could probably flip Marquis somewhere else or use him in long relief. The Sox would also save having to pay the last 3 years of Drew's contract.

 

I realize the Sox didn't exactly get what they were hoping for, in terms of power production, out of Drew. But they won the WS with him and his .373 OBP in the lineup. Like last year, I think Drew would be a great fit for the Cubs (esp if he could play CF) - I wanted him more than Soriano. But I don't see the Sox eager to deal that OBP for Jones and Marquis. Maybe they take Murton for him, but I'm not really sure I'd want to do that deal (why add all the extra salary for the same OPS, even if Drew is "proven") and I don't know that Theo is going to want to either. What's the benefit to the Sox of having Jones and his 5 HR and .335 OBP replace JD Drew?

The Cubs might as well trade Murton for a player that they will play, becuase they don't seem to want to play him.

 

JD Drew is exactly what the Cubs need. However, I see little reason why Boston would trade him and I think he also has a NTC (but I'm not sure).

No he's not. We had JD Drew last year, and our offense still sucked:

Cliff Floyd: .284/.373/.422

JD Drew: .270/.373/.423

Not sure why anyone would want to take on that contract. If we're looking for little to no power in RF, we might as well just bring Floyd back for one year. At least everyone in the clubhouse likes him.

[OleMissCub]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

[jersey cubs fan]

No he's not. We had JD Drew last year, and our offense still sucked:

Cliff Floyd: .284/.373/.422

JD Drew: .270/.373/.423

Not sure why anyone would want to take on that contract. If we're looking for little to no power in RF, we might as well just bring Floyd back for one year. At least everyone in the clubhouse likes him.

 

If 2007 was the only thing that mattered, you're right. But Drew and Floyd are not the same player.

[CubinNY]

No he's not. We had JD Drew last year, and our offense still sucked:

Cliff Floyd: .284/.373/.422

JD Drew: .270/.373/.423

Not sure why anyone would want to take on that contract. If we're looking for little to no power in RF, we might as well just bring Floyd back for one year. At least everyone in the clubhouse likes him.

Is this a joke?

 

Drew maybe a weirdo but he's a career 128 OPS+ hitter and still relatively young. To compare Drew to Floyd at the stages in their careers is really foolish.

[KingCubsFan]

No he's not. We had JD Drew last year, and our offense still sucked:

Cliff Floyd: .284/.373/.422

JD Drew: .270/.373/.423

Not sure why anyone would want to take on that contract. If we're looking for little to no power in RF, we might as well just bring Floyd back for one year. At least everyone in the clubhouse likes him.

 

If 2007 was the only thing that mattered, you're right. But Drew and Floyd are not the same player.

Actually, they are kind of the same player. Both are 30+, brittle outfielders who have seen significant declines in their OPS over the past few years (Actually, Floyd's has fluctuated while Drew's has consistently dropped). There's absolutely no reason to think that Drew can recover and post a .900 OPS again (unless he finds some HGH in his locker), just like there's no reason to think Floyd will ever hit 30 HR's again. Picking up Drew would be a waste of money equivalent to signing Marquis. While I'm not the biggest Murton fan, I'd rather have him at the minimum next year than Drew taking up 14 million dollars of our payroll.

[KingCubsFan]

No he's not. We had JD Drew last year, and our offense still sucked:

Cliff Floyd: .284/.373/.422

JD Drew: .270/.373/.423

Not sure why anyone would want to take on that contract. If we're looking for little to no power in RF, we might as well just bring Floyd back for one year. At least everyone in the clubhouse likes him.

Is this a joke?

 

Drew maybe a weirdo but he's a career 128 OPS+ hitter and still relatively young. To compare Drew to Floyd at the stages in their careers is really foolish.

He's going to be 32 and injury prone. I'm not that interested in the career stats, because it's very clear he's on the decline. If we're going to sign outfielders with career 128+ OPS's, we might as well add Sosa too.