J.D. Drew opts for Free Agency Dodgers' J.D. Drew opts for free agency By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer Fri Nov 10, 12:41 AM ET Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew opted out of the final three years of his contract Thursday, making him eligible to become a free agent. "He led the club in RBIs. You just don't snap your fingers and find another player like that," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said on a conference call. "He wants out, he can have out. He's moving on, we're moving on. We'll find players who like playing here. If he doesn't want to be here, he has the right to leave, and he's exercising that right." Colletti said he was told Monday by Scott Boras, Drew's agent, that this move was a possibility. Then, Colletti said, he awoke Thursday to find a message on his cell phone from Boras giving him the news, which he received officially by fax in the afternoon. "You learn in this business never to be surprised," Colletti said. "I'm surprised how it came down. Everything we had heard, everything that had been written led us to believe the player loved being here." Drew, who turns 31 this month, hit .283 with 20 homers and 100 RBIs last season — his second with the Dodgers. He signed a five-year, $55 million contract on Dec. 23, 2004, and had been guaranteed $33 million over the next three years with Los Angeles. "It was a business decision," Boras said. "The demand for a five-tool defender, a 25-homer guy, a guy who can drive in 100 runs is pretty clear in today's marketplace." Drew was limited to 72 games by injuries in his first year with the Dodgers, hitting .286 with 15 homers and 36 RBIs. Previously, he played with St. Louis from 1998-03 and Atlanta in 2004, where he batted a career-best .305 with 31 homers and 93 RBIs. He has until Saturday to file for free agency. "After looking at the needs of the clubs, a lot of clubs we felt needed offensive players," Boras said. Colletti said he hasn't spoken with Drew since Oct. 6 — after the Dodgers were eliminated by the New York Mets in the first round of the playoffs. "The last time I spoke with him, we had a nice conversation," Colletti said. "I don't really need to (speak to Drew) at this point." While Colletti refused to say he was angry, his feelings came through during a 30-minute conference call. "I hang onto my feelings," Colletti said. "You try to use some diplomacy right now." But the GM also said: "I know J.D. is a spiritual guy and a man of his word. I guess he changed his word. You learn never to be surprised when you're dealing in this arena. People change their minds. People change their word. They move on." Colletti said Boras never asked for Drew's contract to be re-negotiated. The contract called for Drew to earn $11 million in each of the next three years. Paul DePodesta was the Dodgers' GM when Drew signed with the team. "I told (Colletti) there was a strong demand in the marketplace for guys with J.D.'s skills," Boras said. "They never made any proposals to us. I let them know we would be open to listening." Asked about his relationship with Boras, Colletti replied: "Scott does a real good job of what he does. I've known Scott for a long time. All I'll say is he does a really good job of what he does." Colletti said he thought Drew and manager Grady Little had an excellent relationship. "I think Grady managed him very well, gave him time off when he needed it, kept him healthy," Colletti said. "He's a middle-of-the-order bat, very gifted player. I don't think this team wins without everyone who participated this year, who contributed, and that includes J.D." The Dodgers earned just their fourth playoff berth since 1988, winning the NL wild card. Drew was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, but with Boras as his agent, he refused to sign with them. The Cardinals later picked him and a contract agreement was reached. "J.D. was very happy in Los Angeles. He liked the players. He liked the team. ... He's not opposed to going back," Boras said. "We let the Dodgers know we're interested in returning and discussing a new contract. Obviously, it was something we had to do in free agency." But Colletti, who said the Dodgers were already in search of offensive help during the offseason, didn't sound interested. "It opens up payroll, certainly, for the next three years," he said. "It doesn't change the options out there. There's only one more player out there, one we're not going to pursue. It does change how much money we have." First baseman Nomar Garciaparra is a free agent. Colletti didn't deny that Drew's opting out of his deal might change the Dodgers' approach with Garciaparra, adding that young first baseman James Loney, impressive late last season, could play the outfield as well. Matt Kemp, who showed promise last season, is another outfield prospect. "We've got some good young players here," Colletti said. "I'm glad we have the good young players we've got." ___
Has there ever been a guy who has performed less, got injured more, and has yet to ever become an all-star.... who actually decides to opt-out of a deal which he was OVERPAID in the first place? Boras must have an inside-source that's going to compensate Drew (for what, I don't know). Ask any St. Louis fan... the guy is a pansie, always has been, always will be. He sits out games with minor injuries, and he still thinks he's going to become the next Mickey Mantle. Oh yea, what is that? He's already 31? He still wants to get paid as a superstar? PASS!
Agreed about the agent problem, however, Drew would be a nice option, in addition to Lee...Of course, we'd have a log jam, so maybe we can deal for a pitcher...
That MotherF@#%T@ owes us one.... ERRRRRR by the way here is the link for JD on MlB Stats and all MLB Profile on JD
He opted out of 11 million/year?? With all of his past injuries, theres no way he can be worth much more than that.
yeah. i'm not remotely interested in the Astros picking up J.D. Drew for the very reasons you just said.
This is seriously disturbing... how many of you actually think Drew is a great hitter? Hell, I'd wager that Luke Scott can be just as productive over a full season... given the fact that he won't miss a boat-load of games, given the fact that he won't be paid $12 million dollars a year to sit out games with hang-nails, and given the fact that he doesn't have a track record of being a glorified ******* to every team he's ever been on. Philly - refuses to sign with the team that drafts him. STL - LaRussa gives him every opportunity to bust out... finally gets fed-up with his "injuires" and panziness, and parlay's him into Adam Wainright and Jason Marquis. ATL - Gave up great players for him, only to see him bolt the first chance he gets. LA - Commited huge $$$ over multiple years to a guy who never lived up to that deal, and then decides to opt out of that deal with 3 years remaining. If I were LA, I'd be overjoyed... saying good riddance.
Yeah, spending superstar money on a guy who has averaged 44 missed games a season doesn't strike me as a wise move. Add to all that the fact that he's generally disliked by his teammates & management. Adding another bat to the Lee-Soriano-Aramis FA pool is a good thing. Quite a few teams are looking for offense, let someone else overpay for Nancy Drew.
What I don't understand is that he was ALREADY being overpaid... by a "glamour" team in a big market like the Dodgers. What the hell are him and Boras looking for? A $20 million dollar a year deal? I understand that there is a need for offense by many clubs... but one of those teams is the very team he just left (who was set to pay him 33 million for the next 3 years). Frankly, I really hope this comes back and bites them in the ass... as no team comes up with an offer close to that for a perenially injury prone 31 year old outfielder (who's lost a step defensively), and never had a 40 HR season. Then maybe everybody won't flock to Boras as a client the first chance they get.
Why the hell did he opt out of $33 million? He is gonna get injured again this year....and the next....and next. Theres no way he gets overpaid like that again.
I would have posted this when I first heard about it.. but I decided this shouldn't go in this thread b/c the Astros shouldn't even consider it. JD Drew, seriously?! All the arguments have been made above. Just stay away.. Yeah, I can't fathom what he was thinking unless he seriously hated the team, management, clubhouse, or something about the Dodgers that much. If it's purely about money...he's one of the bigger idiots in recent memory with a contract.
I don't want him, and I doubt the Astros want him. He's injury plagued, and a cancer. And he's represented by Boras. Originally posted at another forum:
Actually, looking at it again, Boras knows that Drew is injury prone and this is likely his last chance to get a high-paying per year contract for him (and a last chance to get a great commision). Even though they already had a 3 year 11 million dollar deal, there's no way that Drew gets a good deal after that one expires (when he's 34). Thus, even if he has to settle for a 5 year $9 million dollar per year deal (being modest, since some team might be stupid and give him $11-12 million)... its still more total money that he'll see if he keeps his current deal.
Boras = No Houston in his future. He wouldn't do this w/o something in the wings - my guess the deal is already done. I wouldn't put tampering past Boras. Evan
HELL NO! it would seriously hurt the astros to have this fragile queen. we need pitching to replace andy and roger.