John Heyman at SI.com reports:
Boston, burning from its disappointing 2006 season, is acting quickly to get back on the right track. It is believed they are preparing to make a megabucks offer to J.D. Drew by the end of Monday that will easily top the $33 million Drew walked away from in Los Angeles. One person suggested it may even exceed the deal former Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon got with the Yankees, $52 million over four years. Boston tried to keep Damon last winter but for $40 million over four years.
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I had been assuming that the Matsuzaka bidding involved a post-deal kickback, which would serve to otherwise explain why they would pay an estimated $20M/year for the untested Japanese pitcher. But there is no kickback clause for Drew, who would jump from $11M to $14M per year if the rumor is true. Surprisingly, Drew’s 2006 compares quite well against Damon’s (Drew played 146 games, .283 BA, 20 HR, 100 RBI, .393 OBP; Damon played in 149 games, .285 BA, 24 HR but only 80 RBI, and only a .359 OBP). Add a thin market for outfielders into the equation, and you’ve got a seller’s market.
So for Drew, the price of keeping one’s verbal commitments comes out to an extra $3M/year. I’m fine to let Drew go and play 80 games with the Red Sox before getting injured. But it does signal a strong salvo that the Dodgers are going to have to spend money in this off-season…and fast.
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