The Red Sox traded their last shortstop, then had to sign a new one.
Replacing Mike Aviles (above, with Kansas City) as Red Sox shortstop turned out to come with an expense when Boston agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year deal with Stephen Drew.
The Red Sox wanted John Farrell so much as their manager that they traded their only proven shortstop to acquire him from the Toronto Blue Jays.
They have replaced Mike Aviles with Stephen Drew, who reportedly agreed to a one-year, $9.5 million contract that gives Jose Iglesias a fourth season to develop as a hitter.
The brevity of the deal shows that neither Drew nor the Red Sox see this as a long relationship. For the needs of 2013, however, Drew will be expected to solidify a position that has been a revolving door since Nomar Garciaparra was traded in July of 2004.
Drew's deal, pending a physical, was first reported Monday morning by CBSSports.com The physical can no longer be treated as a rubber-stamp formality, not with Boston still trying to close a deal with Mike Napoli that seemed closed two weeks ago.
According to the Dallas Morning News, the Red Sox have reopened talks with Napoli in an effort to replace his three-year, $39 million deal with a shorter contract. Concerns over Napoli's hip or leg have been advanced in speculation regarding the snafu.
Drew turns 30 in March. The younger brother of J.D. Drew spent more than six years with Arizona before Oakland picked him up in midseason of 2012.
Drew hit .223 with seven home runs an 28 RBIs in 79 games for his two teams last year. He is a .265 career hitter.
Drew is also considered a superior defensive shortstop to Aviles, though hardly the equal of Iglesias.
Injuries have limited Drew to 165 games over the past two seasons. Aviles hit .250 with 13 home runs and 60 RBIs for Boston last year.
Those numbers were inflated by a sizzling start to the season. Aviles was benched for much of September when the Red Sox chose to audition Iglesias as their future shortstop.
Iglesias responded by hitting .118. Boston coveted Farrell so much that they still traded Aviles to Toronto as compensation for Farrell.
The Blue Jays later swapped Aviles to Cleveland, where former Boston manager Terry Francona awaited him. When Boston traded Aviles, it was taken as a sign the Red Sox were ready to give Iglesias the inside track at shortstop.
Paying Drew $9.5 million for one year now says Drew will be the shortstop, with Iglesias either learning as an apprentice or starting back in Triple A.
Either way, the sequence reveals Boston's lack of confidence in Iglesias' offense, at least for the 2013 season.
The Red Sox endured Aviles' aggressive hitting style, which did not bother manager Bobby Valentine but contradict their organizational philosophy of patience. Drew should not be mistaken as a clone for his brother, but his approach more suits the Red Sox style
Signing Drew probably also ends any speculation that Boston might work a trade with Texas for Elvis Andrus - a popular rumor fueled by analysis that the Rangers might want to acquire Jacoby Ellsbury as Josh Hamilton's replacement.
As for Napoli, his place on the 2013 Red Sox is no longer certain. Free agent Nick Swisher remains a "Plan B'' option at first base, according to reports, if the Napoli deal falls through entirely.