The future of Stephen Drew in a Diamondbacks uniform has been uncertain all season.
Coming back the fractured ankle and being in a contract year, Drew was the subject of many trade talks and him re-signing in Arizona was seeming less and less likely.
It came down on Monday that the 29-year-old Drew had been claimed off waivers by the Oakland A’s. The Diamondbacks then had 48 hours to come up with a deal and were able to do so.
“I am just a little shocked,” said Drew on Monday night after leaning the news that he had been traded. “Would like first and foremost to thank the fans who have supported me and to the organization for seven years being here.”
In return the Diamondbacks bring in a shortstop prospect from the A’s organization by the name of Sean Jamieson. While with Single-A Burlington in the Oakland organization, Jamieson batted .234 with 34 doubles and 49 RBI this season. In his 187 game career, he has 52 stolen bases and received mid-season All-Star honors in 2011 in the New York-Penn League as well as in 2012 in the Midwest league.
“Canadian kid with speed and power for the position,” said Diamiondbacks GM Kevin Towers of Jamieson. “Probably a ways away but somebody who we think he is a legitimate middle-infield prospect which that we lacked in our system.”
Drew, who was selected 15th overall in the 2005 draft for Arizona, appeared in 773 games in a Diamondbacks uniform. He is the franchise leader in triples, third in hits and doubles and fourth in games played.
Drew will now be re-united in Oakland with a former manager of his while in Arizona, Bob Melvin.
“This is part of the business and I’m looking forward to going back to an ex-coach I had (Melvin),” mentioned Drew. “That’s going to be refreshing and a new start.”
The Diamondbacks will now have the same look down the stretch as last season with Willie Bloomquist and John McDonald taking care of the shortstop duties. Both are coming off injuries and working their way back onto the field.
The team is also hoping that prospect Chris Owings can come up to the big league squad and possibly be the future of the team at that position.
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Jared Cohen
A born and bred Arizonan, Jared has had great passion for the hometown teams all his life. He now channel's that passion into covering the pro, college and high school teams around the state as a Multimedia Reporter for Sports360AZ.