Stephen Drew, Diamondbacks agree to $3.4M deal

PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Diamondbacks and shortstop Stephen Drew avoided arbitration by agreeing Tuesday to a $3.4 million, one-year contract.

Drew was coming off a five-year contract he agreed to after being selected by the Diamondbacks as the 15th pick in the 2004 amateur draft. That deal called for a $4 million signing bonus and annual salaries of $700,000 in the majors and $300,000 in the minors.

Drew, younger brother of Boston's J.D. Drew, has been in the majors since midway through 2006, his second professional season. He hit a career-best .298 with 44 doubles and 21 homers in 2008 but dipped to .261 with 29 doubles and 12 homers last season, although he did have a career-high 12 triples.

The agreement leaves pitcher Edwin Jackson as Arizona's only player remaining in arbitration. The right-hander, an All-Star for Detroit last season, was acquired as part of a three-team trade involving the Tigers and New York Yankees.

Jackson asked for $6.25 million and Arizona countered at $4.6 million when the sides exchanged figures Tuesday.

Earlier, the Diamondbacks reached agreements with their other four players in arbitration: outfielder Conor Jackson, catcher Miguel Montero, and relievers Chad Qualls and Aaron Heilman.