Editor's note: Here is our original coverage of the trade that sent J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero to the Braves for pitchers Jason Marquis, Adam Wainwright and Ray King on Dec. 13, 2003.
THE CARDINALS WERE about to draft J.D. Drew. Before handing Drew a super-sized signing bonus, team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. called team scout Fred McAllister for a final report.
Drew could never live up to his advance billing in St. Louis. He was a good hitter with a low tolerance for pain. He never made it to an All-Star Game but did make many trips to the disabled list.