Just Say No

This is why we should never ever have any Scott Boras clients on the Big Blue Wrecking Crew...

Normally I'm not down with any George Bush-like policies...but I like what Colletti essentially said and did, "either you're with us or against us."

From the LA Times...

Outfielder J.D. Drew opted out of the final three years of his contract with the Dodgers on Thursday, forfeiting $33 million in a bet he can make more money by signing with another team.

The decision blasted a gaping hole into a lineup already in need of reinforcement and scrambled the Dodgers' winter strategy three days before the start of the free-agent signing period. General Manager Ned Colletti said he was "surprised" and "disappointed," because Drew said repeatedly last season that he did not plan to exercise his opt-out clause.

"I know J.D. is a spiritual guy and a man of his word," Colletti said. "I guess he changed his word."

In a free-agent market Colletti described as "thin," Drew joins Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee and Barry Bonds as the top available outfielders. The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers could pursue Drew, a baseball source said.

"In the marketplace for five-tool players and the marketplace for guys who can play center field, J.D. would certainly move to the top," said Scott Boras, the agent for Drew. "This will provide him with a situation that will give him more rights in his contract and a chance to improve his situation contractually."

Drew, 30, signed a five-year, $55-million contract with the Dodgers after the 2004 season, when Paul DePodesta was general manager. The contract allowed Drew to opt out after two years, a provision for which he said he asked in case he and his wife did not like living in Los Angeles.

During the season, Drew said he and his wife had discovered that they enjoyed Southern California. Drew repeated throughout the year that he did not plan to exercise the opt-out clause, telling Times columnist T.J. Simers in August, "I just want to give you some fun for the next few years."

In the final week of the regular season, he reiterated he would remain with the Dodgers. "At some point, you make your commitments and you stick to them," he told the Orange County Register.

Drew did not return two messages left on his cellphone.

Boras said he does not discuss contractual issues with players during the season. After a recent meeting with Drew to discuss what Boras called "the escalating market," he said Drew simply made a business decision to exercise a contractual right, much as the Dodgers made their decision not to exercise their $12-million option on injured closer Eric Gagne.

"This decision had nothing to do with the Dodgers," Boras said. "J.D. is happy with the Dodgers. He enjoyed his time with the Dodgers. He would certainly consider returning to the Dodgers."

Said Colletti: "I'm done. He wants out. He can have out."