Determined Tigers hot in pursuit of Drew
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Foiled in their effort to land center fielder Steve Finley, the Detroit Tigers are moving aggressively to sign free agent J.D. Drew, SportsLine.com has learned.
The Tigers, who earlier this winter signed closer Troy Percival and pursued third baseman Troy Glaus before Arizona signed him, want to add either a free agent outfielder or third baseman as well as add relief help.
"There's interest," Detroit manager Alan Trammell said of Drew on Saturday afternoon. "We're trying to be somewhat active. We're not going to do anything we think is foolish."
Drew, 30, who played in a career-high 145 games for Atlanta last summer, batted .305 with 31 home runs and 93 RBI. He played right field for the Braves in 2004 and most scouts think his best position is a corner outfield slot.
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| Outfielder J.D. Drew could be climbing the wall -- and hill -- in Detroit. (Getty Images) |
"I think he can," Trammell said. " But is it what he wants to do? Because with us, that's probably what we'd ask him to do.
"He's a pretty productive player. There's a lot to like about J.D. Drew."
The Tigers currently project an outfield of Rondell White in left, Alex Sanchez in center and Bobby Higginson in right. Brandon Inge could play the outfield if needed, third base or a super-utility position in which he would play a little bit of everything.
As currently constructed, the Tigers want more production in the middle of their lineup, and they would like to upgrade their overall defense. Sanchez is mediocre defensively, and Drew would be an upgrade offensively.
"At this point, I'm on a defensive kick to a certain degree," Trammell said. "Defense is very, very important to me. Alex could be better at it."
Center field might physically test Drew, who has had both knee and hamstring problems in his past. But the Tigers apparently have decided that what he could bring to Detroit would outweigh any risk. And they're determined to further upgrade baseball's most improved team in 2004.
