J.D. Drew's five-year $70 million contract will, finally, mercifully, end after the 2011 season. He arrived in 2007 with many wondering why the Boston Red Sox wanted to pay him so much and he'll leave with many more people doing so.
I cannot think of another Boston player whose performance has so been so out-of-whack with his salary for five years. Drew has performed, essentially, like an average player who is paid like a big star.
Consider Drew's numbers (according to ESPN) over four years: In 2007, Drew hit .270, with 64 RBIs and 11 HRs; in 2008, he hit .280 with 64 RBIs and 19 HRs; in 2009, he hit .279 with 68 RBIs and 24 HRs, and, in 2010, he hit .255 with 68 RBIs and 22 HRs.
Nick Swisher, the New York Yankees' right-fielder, earned $6,850,000 in 2010, yet, he hit .288 with 89 RBIs and 29 HRs. So, he made half Drew's salary and put up much better numbers.
While Drew has frustrated many Boston fans, he's avoided drawing nearly as much criticism as you'd expect. Perhaps that's related to Red Sox GM Theo Epstein having a soft spot for Drew. Epstein has loyally defended Drew to the point of appearing to be in some denial about his actual performance. Manager Terry Francona, predictably, has also stood by Drew despite some sub-par performances.
The big question now is: With the Red Sox loaded up for a big 2011, how will Epstein and Francona treat Drew during the last year of his contract? Will they be less patient with his mediocre stretches at the plate? His constant health issues? His failing to hit in the clutch? Drew hit very poorly vs. left-handed pitchers in 2010, and you'd hope that he's benched against more lefties in 2011.
Drew is starting his "contract year" in typical form: He's still feeling the effects of the left hamstring injury that caused him to miss many games last year. Drew recently told WEEI.com's Rob Bradford he couldn't tell how his hamstring would feel when he plays at full speed. In addition, Drew has said he'll consider retiring at the end of this season. That makes me worry about Drew's level of enthusiasm dropping down below measurable levels in the dog days of August. During a normal year, Drew plays with less visible passion than most ballplayers.
Until now, the Red Sox have been forced to be patient with Drew. He was signed to the monster deal and he was going to play – period. Now, in probably his last months here, perhaps Drew may be on a shorter leash. The Red Sox tolerance of Drew's flaws has been striking in comparison to the team's willingness to scrutinize other players' roles. For example, Epstein has said that Jed Lowrie will be considered as an alternative to shortstop Marco Scutaro, even though Scutaro did fairly well in 2010, and played with an injury in the last part of the season.
Drew will probably have his moments this year – like in his last four in Boston, but, again, we'll wonder why he can't perform well for longer stretches. Drew's high level of talent has always been tied to fans' frustration. He's got a beautiful swing. He glides gracefully to catch flyballs in right field. He's got a terrific eye at the plate. If he can hit so well, some wonder, when he comes up with men on base, why doesn't he choose to swing more often rather than take so many borderline pitches? It's easy to imagine him crushing some pitches instead of getting into deep counts before dribbling to second base for an out. Drew seems to value and pursue a walk as if it's as special as a home run.
Drew's high point in Boston, by far, was his grand slam (the $14 M slam) vs. the Cleveland Indians in the 2007 ACLS. That was unforgettable. But, in the long run, it seems Drew's record here will be remembered as unremarkable.
At the end of 2009, Epstein, in a radio appearance on "98.5: The Sports Hub," told hosts Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti: "...I thought you guys were going to ask me about J.D. Drew having the highest second-half OPS of all AL outfielders....."
Hopefully, Epstein has learned by now that sometimes stats like OPS and OBP can be misleading.
J.D. Drew had a good OPS for more than one season in Boston, but, he never – ever – played like a $14 million star.
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