Though they remain in the market for added infield help, recent reports indicate that the New York Yankees will not sign free agent shortstop Stephen Drew. Expressing interest in the 30-year-old infielder after former Yankees star Robinson Cano signed with the Seattle Mariners and free agent target Omar Infante inked a four-year deal with the Kansas City Royals, most thought the Bronx Bombers would turn their attention to Drew, but now it appears that Yankees brass has moved on from the former Boston Red Sox star.
According to Peter Gammons of the MLB Network, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said recently that his club is out of the running for Stephen Drew. New York has already signed middle infielders Brendan Ryan, Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson this offseason but Drew was viewed as a big time piece to New York’s plans. Drew – who helped guide the Boston Red Sox to the 2013 World Series – clubbed 13 home runs while driving in 67 runs and batting .253 in 124 games last season. Never viewed as a dominant offensive player, Drew is valued at a high level because of his defensive prowess and timely offense.
With the Yankees reportedly out of the mix, NESN.com indicates that the Red Sox would like to bring Drew back to Beantown while the New York Mets also have strong interest in the former Arizona Diamondback. While Drew remains a hot figure on the open market, the New York Yankees will most likely turn their attention to Japanese pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka. Recently posted by the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Pacific League, Tanaka would undoubtedly help the Yankees increase the strength of their starting rotation since only CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Hiroki Kuroda sit as guarantees for the approaching 2014 season.
New York could also explore the possibility of signing free agent infielders Jeff Baker or Mark Reynolds. Reynolds spent part of the 2013 season with the Yankees and he remains on Yankee radar.
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