Boston set to make huge offer to ex-Dodgers slugger

	J.D. Drew opted out of the final three years and $33 million on his contract with the Dodgers. Robert Beck/SI

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

NAPLES, Fla. -- The Red Sox are bidding to make a couple quick and big splashes here at the GM meetings. Not only have they won the rights to Japanese League star Daisuke Matsuzaka, SI.com has learned they intend soon to make a major push for free-agent outfielder J.D. Drew.

Boston, burning from its disappointing 2006 season, is acting quickly to get back on the right track. It is believed they are preparing to make a megabucks offer to J.D. Drew by the end of Monday that will easily top the $33 million Drew walked away from in Los Angeles. One person suggested it may even exceed the deal former Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon got with the Yankees, $52 million over four years. Boston tried to keep Damon last winter but for $40 million over four years.

The Red Sox are in need of outfielders and infielders, as center fielder Coco Crisp had a disappointing first season in Boston and right fielder Trot Nixon is a free agent. Drew is adept at center field, and it's more likely he'd switch back after manning right field for the Dodgers the past two years. Some eyebrows were raised when Drew opted out of the three years that remained on his Dodgers deal, but in a players' market he will apparently have no trouble topping that figure. Baltimore and Texas are two more teams expected to show interest in Drew in a hot market for center fielders.