No.
Four years ago, maybe.
The Red Sox, currently busy swooping up every over-priced free agent, have stayed true to their proven system of having solid veteran players while bringing up homegrown talent. The shortstop position has been one held by an immeasurable number of players over the past decade and even know, despite the loss of Mike Aviles to the Blue Jays -- part of manager John Farell's compensation -- the Red Sox still have plenty of options.
Stephen Drew, younger brother to former Red Sox (and "greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history" if you ask my two roommates) JD, has signed a one year, $9.5 million contract in Boston, and could possibly be the frontrunner for starter on Opening Day. But he doesn't earn the position on merit alone.
Drew only played in 79 games last season between Arizona and Oakland, hitting just .223 with seven home runs. His career year was in 2008, when he hit .291 with 21 homers and 67 RBI. But we're looking ahead to 2013, and his opportunity comes as the Nation waits to see the progress of prospects Jose Iglesias and Xander Bogaerts, who factor to be lacing up their cleats for the big league club sometime this year.
Bogaerts, just 20 years old, is progressing quickly in the minors, while Iglesias as well as Pedro Ciriaco have already made an impact in Boston. Many are claiming that Ciriaco's stock will be dropping this season now that pitchers have had time to adjust to his game, but for my money, between Will Middlebrooks and Dustin Pedroia, Ciriaco provides exactly what you're looking for in the field and out of the eight of nine spot in the lineup.
Drew's signing doesn't really do a lot for Boston. He doesn't provide anything the Red Sox don't already have, but the one thing the signing does is add to the sentiment that the 2013 Boston Red Sox are not messing around.
Drew will be a solid (and expensive) option off the bench for them. If they could have gotten him for around 5 it would have been better. I completely agree though that unless Iglesias shows something special with the bat in spring training, Ciriaco is the guy. Iglesias just needs to work on being an effective small ball hitter. Hopefully he is watching a lot of Ichiro film (minus the batting mechanics) because if he could just learn to slap the ball around on the ground to the appropriate side of the field he would be a valuable low order hitter moving runners while being a stellar defensive player. I guess he should try to emulate Omar Visquel.
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