Despite other offers to start, Drew preferred return to Nats bench

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - After a strong debut season with the Nationals, the first of his career in which he didn't start on a regular basis, Stephen Drew had a decision to make.

There were opportunities this winter to sign with other clubs that could offer a guarantee of more playing time. And Drew admittedly thought long and hard about accepting one of those offers.

But then he thought about his year in Washington, the success he had coming off the bench and the success the team had in the standings, and suddenly the decision wasn't so tough.

"I had other certain jobs I could've took," he said yesterday morning. "But I like the team. I like where we're at. The coaching staff, front office, everything. Just weighing options and talking to my wife and talking to the kids. They're getting older. I think the role last year was really good for me. It's hard. You want to start. But at the same time, I really enjoyed what I did last year, too."

And so on Jan. 26, only a couple of weeks before pitchers and catchers were due to report for spring training, Drew re-signed with the Nationals. It was a modest deal - one year, $3.5 million - but at this stage of his career, comfort was admittedly more important than money or playing time.

"It's a little different (now)," he said. "I'm not 22. I've got three kids now, and I've got to take care of them first. It was more or less working things out and seeing what we could do. And also knowing this team, the guys on this team, it's fun to be a part of. We've got a good group. And that weighed my (decision) on this side as well."

The Nationals couldn't be happier to have Drew back. They signed him last winter not knowing exactly how he'd fit in as a bench player after 10 seasons as a starter with the Diamondbacks, Athletics, Red Sox and Yankees, but he proved quite valuable in his new role.

After a sluggish start, Drew caught fire in early May. Over the rest of the season, he hit .310 with a .388 on-base percentage, .999 OPS, seven homers and 20 RBIs.

The latter portion of that surge came while he was battling an unusual physical ailment: vertigo that was the byproduct of an inner-ear infection suffered when he got sick mid-season. Drew missed about seven weeks with the condition, but he was able to return after receiving a series of injections in his ear. And then he picked up right where he left off when he came off the disabled list in September, even though he admits now he still dealt with the symptoms into the offseason.

"It took a while to come over that," he said. "It was hard to describe. When I got that sick, it's just kind of a freak thing. ... I know going into the offseason, I still had it. And in the postseason, I still battled through it. And as you guys know, having to do them shots, that was no fun anyways. Let's try not to repeat that this year."

The Nationals would settle for a repeat not of Drew's physical state but of his on-field performance. He is a vital part of the roster, given his ability not only to produce off the bench but also to step in and play every day at second base, shortstop or third base if somebody else goes down.

"It's hard to find players like that, number one, and (who can) hit," manager Dusty Baker said. "I mean, there are a lot of gloves out there who can play multiple positions. But there aren't many gloves out there who can pinch-hit off the bench. I think that's a job basically for an older player that's had some success and knows not to get down when he doesn't have success. ... That's why that job is very difficult for a young player because they don't have that background of success. Stephen Drew knows how to make the adjustments. And he can make them day-to-day, or at-bat to at-bat, because of his experience."