The Boston Red Sox signed outfielder J.D. Drew to a five-year $70 million contract nearly one month after Drew shocked the Dodgers on November 9th by opting out of the final three years of his contract, worth $33 million. Drew signed a five-year $55 million contract before the 2005 season with an escape clause after the second season. Near the end of this past season, Drew said repeatedly that he liked living in Southern California and expected to fulfill his contract. After being injured for much of the 2005 season, and having a productive 2006 campaign, very few people would have thought that Drew would be able to get a contract larger than the three-years $33 he had remaining of his current contract. Drew batted .283 with 20 homers and a career high 100 RBI's this past season. These are good numbers, and numbers you would expect from a player with three-years $33 million left on his contract. Drew has had 100 RBI's just once in his career, and has played in more than 135 games only twice. When he plays, Drew is productive but he is still not worth $14 million per year. Drew is a good defensive player, has some power, is a solid run producer, but has never been much base stealer. J.D. Drew is a solid player and he will fit in very nicely with the Red Sox as long as they keep Manny Ramirez. He will be a very good number five hitter and provide nice protection for Manny. Grade: C J.D. Drew has never lived up to his expectations and has been an average hitter for a guy who is in the middle of the order. He is certainly a nice fit in Boston with his impressive OBP, but there is no way he deserves $14 annually for five years. The Red Sox fell into one of Scott Boras? traps and grossly overpaid one of his clients. Lugo to the Red Sox The Red Sox continued a busy off-season by signing shortstop Julio Lugo to a four-year $36 million contract. Lugo started his career with the Astros and was traded to the Devil Rays during the 2003 season. He was with Tampa Bay until being involved in a deadline deal to the Dodgers last season. Lugo has is a very solid player who is very consistent, and has not had injury problems of late. The Red Sox, who have had three different everyday shortstops since they traded Nomar Garciaparra at the 2004 trading deadline, hope Lugo can get comfortable in Boston, putting a halt to the revolving door. Lugo is an above average defensive player, but still not nearly as good as Alex Gonzalez, who played shortstop for the Red Sox last season. Lugo, however, is a much better offensive player. Lugo is the kind of player whom you can count on to bat around .275 with 10 homers, 45 RBIs and steal 25 bases. Grade: B Lugo is a very solid player who will fit in nicely with the Red Sox. Boston was in need of a shortstop after letting Alex Gonzalez go to free agency. The way the market has been this off-season, signing a consistent shortstop like Lugo to a contract that pays $9 million per year is a victory.