Thursday the Washington Nationals announced they had agreed to terms with veteran infielder Stephen Drew on a 1-year contract worth $3.5 million, along with another $1.2 million in potential incentives. Drew was a pleasant surprise for the Nationals in 2016, batting .266/.339/.524 with 8 home runs in 143 at-bats, while seeing time defensively at second base, shortstop and the hot corner. An unfortunate bout with vertigo caused him to miss nearly two months of the season, but that issue seems resolved as he returned to the roster in September.
The 33-year-old Drew has spent 11 seasons in the major leagues, with a career batting line of .252/.318/.424 with 122 home runs. A left-handed hitter, Drew possesses impressive power for a middle infielder, along with a strong .771 career OPS against right-handed pitching. Of note, Drew showed a knack for pinch hitting last season, hitting .231 with 3 home runs in 26 at-bats. The metrics also rate him as both a decent defender and baserunner. At this point in his career, Drew would be overextended as a starter, but profiles well in a utility infielder role.
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In conclusion this was a smart signing for the Nationals and immediately improves their 25-man roster. Drew provides Washington a proven major league hitter, a popular figure in the clubhouse and a dramatic upgrade to the bench. My only minor quibble is considering the number of free agents still available, I thought Washington could sign Drew (or another player) at a lower financial guarantee. The money is reasonable, but I worry this could hinder the front office from acquiring a much-needed late-inning relief pitcher or upgrading from Clint Robinson. Nonetheless, this is a relatively low-risk deal and the Nationals have a much deeper, versatile roster with Stephen Drew, making this a quality move for Washington.
NatsGM Grade -> B
