The Athletics will likely explore trade options at shortstop with Stephen Drew having signed with the Red Sox, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday.
Drew, 29, hit .250/.326/.382 down the stretch for Oakland after coming over from the Diamondbacks in an August post-waiver trade. The shortstop's $10 million mutual option for 2013 was declined following the season (paying Drew a $1.35 million buyout), making him a free agent.
The club's depth chart at shortstop is currently headed by Adam Rosales and Andy Parrino, owners of career .630 OPS and .576 OPS, respectively. Oakland was a rumored destination for Yunel Escobar before his trade to the Rays and also have been connected to Japanese free agent Hiroyuki Nakajima.
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