Pirates Trade Rumors: Bucs Eyeing Stephen Drew, According To Report

Ken Rosenthal writes that the Pirates have interest in Stephen Drew of the Diamondbacks:

The Pirates, Red Sox and Tigers are among the teams interested in Drew, according to major-league sources.

The Pirates’ .515 OPS at short is the worst in the majors. The Red Sox likely would use Drew as a backup infielder. The Tigers could play him at short or use him off the bench.

Drew only made his 2012 debut on June 27, so it's hard to worry much about his .496 OPS so far, particularly given the quotes from Nick Piecoro that are included in Rosenthal's article regarding Drew's at-bats so far this season and his recovery from the gruesome ankle injury he suffered last year.

I like Clint Barmes' defense a lot, but a .521 OPS just won't fly, and Drew is likely to hit much better. We haven't talked much about the possibility of the Pirates acquiring a shortstop at the deadline, mainly because there haven't been many names that have come up as possibilities. But if they could grab a decent one, they'd be getting a nice upgrade. I could definitely get behind a trade for Drew as long as the Pirates didn't pay too much.

Drew has a $10 million option next year and a $1.35 million buyout, so this would probably be a rental unless he hit really well down the stretch.

The dorkier among you may recall that Cam Bonifay's Pirates drafted Drew in the 11th round in 2001, but Dave Littlefield, who took over draft signings after Bonifay was fired, did not sign him.