J.D. Drew Is Easily Influenced

J.D. Drew up and left the Dodgers this winter, activating an opt-out clause just days before the deadline after not saying a word about it all season to the team's front office. He left three years and $33 million on the table in Los Angeles before signing a five-year, $70 million deal with the Red Sox ... yet he's the one that's bitter about how this went down?

Apparently Dodgers GM Ned Colletti made some comments about Drew going against his word, to which Drew essentially responded, "Nuh-uh, I never said a word so how can I go against it?" But between all the "he said, she said," I think it's obvious there may be a third party to blame. From the Los Angeles Times:

Although Drew, 31, said he was aware he had an option in his contract, it wasn't until he was approached by agent Scott Boras after the season that he considered invoking it.

"I honestly never thought about that," he said. "I kind of laughed it off thinking, 'We're happy in L.A., we're not really thinking [along] the lines of leaving.' [Boras] said, 'I need you to seriously consider this' and he kind of laid out some options for me and said, 'Hey, this is what I think could happen. With a young family and thinking about having additions to that family I want you to have some job security. I want you to be able to kind of dictate where you're playing for a few years.' "

Scott Boras is the devil! Okay, maybe not, but the whole "job security" bit is a little confusing considering Drew still had three years left at $11 million per on his previous contract. Maybe the Dodgers could have traded him, but Colletti claims Drew never asked for a no-trade clause.

I'm sure Drew will have a lot of success in Boston, especially with the option of playing a few games at DH when he's nicked up ... because lord knows he's always nicked up. As talented as he is, Drew has topped 500 plate appearances just twice in his career. And while $14 million a season might be the going rate for an All-Star caliber player, it's a bit of a gamble considering it's not exactly known if Drew has peaked as a hitter or still has the best to come. But at least he fits the mold for a Red Sox player: high OBP, some power, over-whelming need to feel wanted... (cough, Schilling, Manny cough)