Stephen Drew is headed back to Boston, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.
The 31-year-old shortstop has signed a one-year contract to return to the Red Sox, sources told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
UPDATE (3:40 p.m.): Drew must pass a physical before the deal can be completed, sources told ESPN.com’s Gordon Edes and the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber.
The Red Sox have not confirmed or commented on the signing.
Sherman and CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman both reported that Drew’s contract will be worth $10 million — the prorated version of the $14.1 million deal the Red Sox offered him in the offseason.
Drew left the team in free agency at the conclusion of the Red Sox’s 2013 World Series championship run and — under his reported deal — is set become a free agent again at the end of this season. Boston would have received a draft pick in return if he signed elsewhere.
The New York Yankees offered Drew a two-year deal, Sherman reported, but the sides did not reach an agreement. The New York Mets also showed interest.
Rosenthal reported that Drew is expected to be at Fenway Park on Tuesday night but will not play in the Red Sox’s home game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo cited an industry source saying the shortstop will join the team’s active roster Wednesday.
Drew will be tasked with elevating the left side of the Red Sox’s infield, which has underperformed through the first 43 games this season. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks was hitting just .197 in 21 games when he was placed on the disabled list Saturday, and Xander Bogaerts has struggled to adjust in his first full season as a major league shortstop.
Bogaerts and Brock Holt will start at shortstop and third, respectively, Tuesday night.
Drew, who is known more for his defense than his bat, posted a .253/.333/.443 slash line with 13 home runs and 67 RBIs in 124 regular-season games for the Red Sox last season.
