JD Drew Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

Boston Red Sox outfielder JD Drew underwent surgery on his left shoulder over the weekend to help alleviate the pain in the AC joint that bothered him throughout the season. Drew is expected to be ready for spring training.

Ever since Drew signed a five-year, $70 million contract before the 2007 season, he has been the subject of great controversy. The controversy being: Has he lived up to his contract?

The answer is yes!

I know Drew can be frustrating to watch sometimes. Because he has such a low-key attitude, he almost looks like he isn’t trying sometimes. When he goes into one of his annual slumps—it looks like he really isn’t trying.

But if you look at his overall body of work, Drew has been worth the money. The Red Sox have paid Drew $42 million through the first three years of his contract and, according to Fangraphs, Drew has been worth $45.2 million.

He is a great defensive player, great base-runner, and has been unbelievably clutch in a Red Sox uniform.

Drew got the biggest hit of the 2007 postseason with his grand slam in Game Six of the ALCS off of Fausto Carmona. He carried the Red Sox through June and July of 2008, and his game-winning, two-run home run off of Francisco Rodriguez in Game Two of the ALDS essentially ended that series.

He has more than done his share in Boston.

Now there is one interesting caveat to this injury. The Red Sox do have an opt-out clause in Drew’s contract that is related to shoulder injuries.

Drew’s deal allows the Red Sox to opt out of the contract for either the 2010 or 2011 season if Drew spends 35 days on the disabled with injuries related to a pre-existing right shoulder condition, or if he finishes the 2010 season on the disabled list and can’t play the outfield in 2011.

However, because this injury was to his left shoulder, this opt-out clause doesn’t apply.

 

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