Paradigm said:I think there's a sliver of a chance that these negotiations could get interesting.
With Jeter's impending retirement, the Yankees need a long-term shortstop for 2015 and beyond. They have nobody in their farm (shock!) to fill the role. They'd be significantly better at 2B and 3B this year with Drew playing one of those positions, and he can move to SS next year. O/U's just put them at 83.5 wins this year. Improving on Brendan Ryan or Kelly Johnson would be a smart idea.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, would only get the 56th pick in next year's draft if he signs with the Yankees. Valuable, sure, but not a pick that should be expected to materially improve a top-five farm system. Also not a pick that the Yankees need to protect. (side note: why can't the damn Angels or Giants sign Drew so the Sox can reap a top 15 pick?)
Boras can pitch Drew to the Yankees and make a pretty good case. He can take this back to the Red Sox and caution them that Drew could stay in the division, and that the Sox won't even get much of a draft pick for him. Do the Sox want to match?
But what are they matching? Who are the Yankees bidding against (if they're bidding at all in this hypothetical situation)? How many years do they have to go and for how much money? Do they want to sign Drew to a four year deal for low money so that he can lock up shortstop for 2015-2017? Do they have to offer him a lot of money if no other team bids?
Would the Red Sox match with a one year deal at higher money and give him an opt-out to add depth this year and block him from going to the Yankees this year? Does that work for Drew so that he can hit the open market again next year?
Even without Jeters announcement Drew made perfect sense for the Yankees, mainly as insurance in 2014 and then as the bridge to the next SS of the future beyond 2014. With Arods AAV coming back on the books in 2015-2017 and nothing in the farm, they need an affordable bridge to 2017-2018. Drews only 31 and has only had 1 significant injury in his career, albeit a serious one that spanned 2 seasons. He is certainly affordable at this point and only costs them a 2nd round pick.
I was wondering if Jeters announcement was a sign they have signed Drew. Jeter was perhaps asked to hold off on announcing so they could get the best deal for Drew, and he would want to announce his retirement before the Drew deal was announced since it would look like he was being forced out. Now it can look like a response to the news Jeter is retiring. We shall see if that's the case in the next week or so,
I doubt the Red Sox get into a bidding war over Drew and suspect they have moved on. They can't say they are out since under the new CBA that's no longer allowed. The MLBPA argued doing so was potentially collusive..