Drew Signs with Dodgers

Drew nets second biggest deal behind Beltre

J.D. Drew is getting an early Christmas present. Agent Scott Boras has convinced another team to play Santa Claus for one of his clients. The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a $55 million, five-year deal with with Drew, who hit .305 with 31 homers and 93 RBIs for the Braves last season. The contract — the second biggest in total money for a free agent this offseason — won't be finalized until Drew passes a physical today in Los Angeles. Drew's contract almost matches the $64 million, five-year deal that third baseman Adrian Beltre — another Boras client — got to leave the Dodgers and sign with Seattle last week.

The Braves wanted to re-sign Drew, but Boras didn't even respond to the team's initial contract offer of what was believed to be about $25 million for three seasons. Because Drew wasn't offered arbitration, the Braves won't get compensatory draft picks from Los Angeles for losing the 29-year-old outfielder from Hahira, Ga.

Despite his breakout season, the Dodgers are taking a risk in giving Drew such a lucrative long-term deal. He had been beset by injuries until playing in a career-high 145 games last season with the Braves after being acquired in a trade with St. Louis.

It's a shame that the Braves couldn't afford to re-sign Drew, who apparently wanted to stay in Atlanta. But this level of salary is simply unjustified for a player who had only one breakout year in which he remained relatively healthy throughout.