Drew fails Physical?

by cincyinco on Dec 17, 2006 3:15 AM EST

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=103

December 16, 2006, 03:53 PM ET
Drew Deal in Trouble?

by Will Carroll

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald got the story first, but I have more details on the specifics of the J.D. Drew physical. Drew took the physical shortly after the announcement of the deal in Orlando, but sources have told me that Drew showed problems in his shoulder that "could shut down his power." Drew had minor surgery on his shoulder after the 2005 season, so it's possible that there's more damage in there. It's important to note that in free agent acquisitions, a team often does not have the benefit of requesting medical records from his previous team prior to signing. Speculation centers on the damage to Drew's shoulder being more like Scott Rolen circa 2005. As Massarotti reports, it is more likely that the Red Sox get protection in the form of a very limited escape clause rather than scuttling the deal altogether. Somewhere, Bill Simmons just had someone kick him in the groin.

Didn't see this posted yet..

Discuss.

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there were rumors like this

that jaret wright failed his physical before signing with the yankees...that was a shame

by nyybaseball99 on Dec 17, 2006 6:17 AM EST reply actions

Damn magnets...

by The Colonel on Dec 17, 2006 6:30 AM EST reply actions

Dreww

A diarist posted the same thing on my site.

Feels like the Sox trying to renege a bit after universal condemnation from any but the most faithful sabre-ists.

Fake Teams

by ephinz on Dec 17, 2006 12:58 PM EST reply actions

that

Or JD Drew DOES have a problem in his shoulder. Imagine that.

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Dec 17, 2006 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

He did....

have surgery in '05. Plus, shoulders are so tricky and annoying.

by SenorGato88 on Dec 17, 2006 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

Not to revisit the prior debate

But this is precisely why $70M/5 doesn't make sense. The failed physical may save the Sox from themselves.

by Yakker on Dec 17, 2006 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

Hahah

Because teams are always so interested in what the sabremetricians think about FA signings.

Maybe Drew, who has a lengthy injury history and noted problems with his shoulder, actually is abnged up enough to warrant a cancellation of the deal.

by nyr2k2 on Dec 17, 2006 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

Just posted on Rotoworld

J.D. Drew is scheduled to receive a second opinion Monday on a shoulder issue the Red Sox have concerns about, according to a major league source familiar with Drew's condition.

It's still likely that Drew is on his way to Boston, but it may be a revised deal. The Red Sox aren't going to want to pay $70 million for five years if they feel he's likely to need additional surgery on his right shoulder at some point. Drew underwent what was reported to be minor surgery on the shoulder in Sept. 2005. He put in a relatively full season last season, but the shoulder did cause him to miss a couple of games in May and might have bothered him at other times.

by abbreviatedman on Dec 17, 2006 1:30 PM EST reply actions

Well

I'd rather pay 5/70 for a healthy player than less for a hurt one.

by kramerica1515 on Dec 17, 2006 4:04 PM EST reply actions

This is great news for the Red Sox

If this helps them come to their senses and they don't sign Drew so that Wily Mo can be a starter as he should be.

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on Dec 17, 2006 4:27 PM EST reply actions

Amen

I'm with you Congo....I'll take WillyMo over Drew in a heartbeat.

by fartballs on Dec 17, 2006 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

He strikes out because he cares so much about the game that he has to swing extra hard. Unlike Drew, who clearly doesn't care at all.

by MontrealMets on Dec 17, 2006 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

Drew

This deal has smelled fishy from the start. Why pay a guy top dollar if he can't even play a season injury free? And now there is a serious question about his shoulder?
I'm hoping this falls apart and he goes somewhere else. Seems like a poor investment.

Fan of Fenway

by bodyiq on Dec 17, 2006 5:04 PM EST reply actions

IF Boras let me opt out of contract

without his own medical report he made a major mistake.

by novaoakland on Dec 17, 2006 5:39 PM EST reply actions

me = him

by novaoakland on Dec 17, 2006 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

some

i've heard some people rumble that the Drew deal was partly to soften up Boras for the matsuzaka deal. I dunno if that's true or not, but if it is and the Sox end up not signing Drew...
Well, I'd just find that pretty funny.

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Dec 17, 2006 5:57 PM EST reply actions

+1

Play the game to Boras's rules.

by MontrealMets on Dec 17, 2006 7:06 PM EST up reply actions

Well

I think it would be funny if Matsuzaka turns out to be the next Hideki Irabu. So there.

Just think how great it would be if the Sox paid over $100 million for a guy who bombs horribly in the major leagues. I'm not saying he will, but it would serve the Sox right if he did.

I want karma to stick it to 'em for paying over 100 million for a guy who's never pitched in the big leagues...

by ajohnst1 on Dec 17, 2006 11:48 PM EST up reply actions