Boras says he's working with Epstein to finalize Drew:

Quote:

NEW YORK --J.D. Drew's agent said the outfielder doesn't have any physical ailments that would prevent his contract with the Boston Red Sox from being finalized.

Scott Boras, who represents Drew, reached a preliminary agreement with the Red Sox on Dec. 5 for a $70 million, five-year contract. The Red Sox have questions about the condition of J.D. Drew's surgically repaired right shoulder, the Globe reported earlier this week.

Drew had surgery on his right shoulder and on a wrist in September 2005.

"J.D. is healthy," Boras said Wednesday night. "We've had noted experts that have demonstrated that he's without any condition that would effect him over the five years of the contract."

Boras said that drafting the agreement is the only obstacle to completing an agreement. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has not commented publicly on the deal since the reports on Drew's condition began last weekend.

"Theo and I are working on this in good faith," Boras said. "We're just working through the language."

Until the parties sign off on the deal, Drew remains a free agent, according to Gene Orza, chief operating officer for the Major League Baseball Players Association, who confirmed that the Sox raised questions about Drew's shoulder after he underwent the physical upon which the deal was conditioned.

For now, Orza said, the issues are more the subject of an inquiry by the Sox than at the center of a dispute between the parties. "We [the union] are not involved in it yet," Orza said.

"Apparently, the parties are talking about the consequences of a procedure J.D. had, that in the opinion of the doctor, was designed to help further the rehabilitation of the shoulder."

Once the Red Sox are satisfied that the additional work done on Drew's shoulder is "to their advantage," Orza said, he expected the matter to be resolved.

Drew would receive annual salaries of $14 million, but if he doesn't meet set levels of games played, some of the final year's $14 million would be deferred.

Boston plans to have the left-handed-hitting 31-year-old play right field and bat fifth behind David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Drew hit .283 last season with 20 homers and a career-high 100 RBIs for the Dodgers.


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