I was optimistic about the Red Sox signing Stephen Drew, but that was before I really thought about. Once I did, I remembered that Drew's no longer the up-and-coming prospect that I still envision in my mind, but instead a soon-to-be 30-year-old who hasn't been a factor since 2010. A guy at the tail end of his career, with a lingering ankle injury and shared genes with a former player who didn't exactly excel under the Fenway microcscope.
Then there's the fact that in signing Drew, the Sox have made it clear that they don't think Jose Iglesias is ready. This would be the second straight season where that's the case, leading to obvious the question: Is he ever going to be ready? Will the greatest defensive shortstop in Red Sox history potentially never even play for the team? Or is now just about bridging the gap to Xander Bogaerts?
Either way, I guess it's hard to get too bent out of shape about the Stephen Drew signing. If he can stay healthy, he'll be solid enough. He'll make plays. He'll also be playing for another contract, so there's extra motivation on the table.
If he can't stay healthy? Or just has a bad season? Not a huge deal.
We'll just be happy the Sox didn't give him the newly customary three-year, 39 million, or the five-year, 70 million Drew family rate.
Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine