VIERA, Fla. -- Nationals infielder Stephen Drew feels for former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond, who remains on the free-agent market. Desmond turned down the Nats' $15.8 million qualifying offer in the offseason, a decision which then attached Draft-pick compensation for any team that signed the 30-year-old veteran of seven big league seasons.
Drew went through the same ordeal after helping the Red Sox win a World Series title in 2013. Drew was available until May of the following year, when he re-signed with Boston. Drew would like to see the qualifying offer go away, or at least the part that costs teams a Draft pick for signing a player who turned down a qualifying offer.