Athletics rumors: Stephen Drew drawing interest from Oakland

The Oakland Athletics are one of several teams considering Stephen Drew as a bounce-back candidate in the infield, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Drew, turning 32 next March, will need to recover from a horrible half-season split between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. In 2014, Drew hit a combined .162/.237/.299 for his two clubs, splitting time between second base and shortstop.

Drew had declined a qualifying offer from the Red Sox at the end of 2013, missed spring training, and failed to sign anywhere until signing for the prorated qualifying offer in late May because of the draft compensation attached to signing him.

Rumors of Oakland's interest in Drew stretch as far as back as November 10, before the A's began their recent trade spree. From our free agent profile that day:

Stephen Drew ain't fun, but he's cheap. He's so cheap. With the ridiculous awfulness of 2014, he might be had for a 1 year/ $6 million contract, maybe with a team option. And he's got upside: he's been at least a 3 WAR player two out of the last five years. At the very least, he'll give you a decent middle-infield option on a team that has exactly none of those right now. If he's bad, who cares, he's gone next year. If he's good, you just hit on the biggest bargain of free agency.

WIth Marcus Semien now the A's likely starting shortstop, the left-handed batting Drew could complement the right-handed batting Semien in a shortstop platoon or directly compete against incumbent left-handed batting second baseman Eric Sogard.

Heyman also listed the Yankees, Mets, Astros, Braves, Padres, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Nationals, and Marlins as potential suitors. Charlie Wilmoth of MLB Trade Rumors predicts that he could sign a one year deal for $7 million.