Nationals reportedly sign veteran infielder Stephen Drew

By Josh Land

Nationals

December 29, 2015, 6:00pm

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The Nationals have reached a one-year, $3 million deal with free agent infielder Stephen Drew, according to CBSSports.com. Drew, 32, provides middle infield depth behind presumed starters Daniel Murphy at second base and Danny Espinosa at shortstop.

The 10-year veteran brings another left-handed bat to Washington's offensive attack. But Drew hit just .201/.217/.381 in 131 games for the Yankees last season. He did smack 17 homers - his best mark since 21 in 2008 - and drove in 44 runs. Two of Drew's longballs runs came against the Nats in a 6-1 Yankees win on June 9.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was the Diamondbacks director of scouting when Arizona selected Drew with the 15th overall pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. After making his debut in 2006, Drew batted .266 with a .765 OPS, 70 homers and a club-record 52 triples in his first six-plus seasons in Arizona.

However, since moving to the American League in a trade to Oakland in 2012, Drew has slumped to a .217 average with a .678 OPS in four seasons with the A's, Red Sox and Yankees.

Drew has appeared in 28 postseason games, winning a World Series with the Red Sox in 2013. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports Drew could earn another $1.25 million in incentives as part of his new deal with the Nats. His signing likely indicates a plan for highly regarded shortstop prospect Trea Turner to begin the season in Triple-A.