Heyman: Mets Offered Drew 1 year/$9.5M

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Mets have made an offer to free-agent Stephen Drew, however that offer amounted just one-year and $9.5 million dollars.  Specifically, Heyman said:

"The Mets suggested a salary close to the range of the $9.5 million Drew made last 

year, an unusual no-raise try that had little chance. It's no wonder then that GM Sandy 

Alderson has termed a Drew signing “unlikely,” but the Mets would appear to have

 about the greatest need."

Heyman may be correct that the Mets still have the greatest need.  He may also be correct that a salary offer identical to what Drew made in 2013 had little chance, however I'm not so sure it was a low ball offer by the Mets front office.

The Mets and Red Sox remain the only two teams directly linked to Drew this winter.  The Mets don't appear set to break the bank, and the Red Sox have grown increasingly non-committal when discussing the free agent shortstop..because they don't need him.  If $9.5 million is the richest offer he's received to date, it is certainly possible for another team (maybe one of the two mystery teams Boras suggests) to sweep in and sign Drew now that Spring Training has begun.  With that said, I'll be surprised if Drew gets the 3 year deal worth $14 million annually that he supposedly covets.

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I'll be honest.  I'm not longer enamored with Stephen Drew.  With the exception of 10-12 home runs, I'm not sure he offers much of an upgrade over Ruben Tejada.  However, with that said I don't really care if the Mets offer him $5, $10 or $20 million, as long as its a one year deal.  Ideally, I'd like to see the Mets make the trade for Nick Franklin, which was rumored yesterday.  Although Drew is better defensively, Franklin would likely provide similar offensive production, is much younger and would remain much cheaper for years to come.