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After sitting on the free agent market all winter and through nearly two months of the season, shortstop Stephen Drew signed with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. It was originally reported he would be active for Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, but Drew will spend the next 7-10 days in the minors before before joining the Red Sox.
Can Drew become a good option for fantasy baseball owners?
Drew hit .253 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI with Boston last season, and most importantly he played 124 games and had 442 at-bats after playing just 165 games over the previous two seasons. Those home run and RBI totals put him in the top-10 among shortstops, and his 57 runs scored put him in a tie for 18th at the position.
Drew had a productive run with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2007-2010, with at least 12 home runs and 60 RBI in all four seasons (21 home runs and 67 RBI in 2008) while topping 500 at-bats in all four campaigns. That kind of power production is rare at shortstop, and Drew surely had the attention of fantasy owners.
Drew’s signing means Xander Bogaerts will become Boston’s regular third baseman, while Will Middlebrooks (finger) will find himself primarily on the bench once he returns from the disabled list. Adding third base eligibility will bolster Boegarts’ fantasy value, and Middlebrooks may need a trade to have much value over the rest of the season.
Drew is obviously not a starting option over the next week or so while he spends time in the minors, but he is worth stashing right now in all AL-only and mixed leagues. Durability concerns will remain prevalent due to his late start, but Drew can be a difference maker for fantasy owners over the rest of the season.
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter or connect on Google +.
