Yankees GM on Stephen Drew: 'Hopefully, he can put last year behind him'

Same team, same player, same position, but the New York Yankees are hoping to get a different result after re-upping with second baseman Stephen Drew on a one-year deal earlier this month.

"Hopefully, he can put last year behind him and be the player he was before then," general manager Brian Cashman told Anthony McCarron of the Daily News. "He has a history of being a really good player prior to a season that didn't play out the way anybody expected.

"It was just something that's so far out of the norm for his capabilities. The contract reflects that and we're certainly hopeful that he can revert back.

"At very least, he can play multiple positions and he's a helluva defender."

Acquired from the Boston Red Sox at last season's non-waiver trade deadline, Drew finished the year with a career-worst slash line of .162/.237/.299 in 85 games.

The soon-to-be 32-year-old had the start of his 2014 season delayed until June as a result of being tied to draft-pick compensation, after he rejected a qualifying offer by the Red Sox. He eventually agreed to a one-year deal with Boston but never appeared to get settled.

While Drew hasn't been an imposing threat at the plate over the last three seasons - hitting .245/.322/.403 in 289 games - its would appear unlikely his production would reach the lows it hit in 2014.