J.D. Drew in quotes

Here is what some members of the Dodgers organization have to say about J.D. Drew:
Former teammate Bill Mueller:

"I tell you what, he's a great player, a great individual, and a character guy. Any left-handed bat like his, the way he uses the whole field, he could have great success there. Unfortunately for us, he went somewhere else, which is his option. The market is great and he took advantage of it.

"Boston is such a great, great, great place to play. It's hard for me to say don't go to Boston because I think everybody should be able to experience playing in Boston. It's the Mecca of the game."

"You definitely have to have a certain mentality going in. The way J.D. is, he goes about business the way I do. Usually when people have that kind of personality, they do fine because they go out there and play their hearts out."

Dodgers Manager Grady Little on whether Drew can play in Boston:

"Of course he can," said the former Red Sox manager, who had Drew in Los Angeles last season. "He's an outstanding ballplayer. He can play anywhere."

"We were surprised [that he moved on]," said Little. "We thought J.D. was going to be our right fielder for a long time. We enjoyed having him on the team. We liked his game. He played hard for us."

Dave Jauss, Drew's outfield coach in Los Angeles who spent many years in the Red Sox organization:

"I expect him to be a really good player in Boston," said Jauss. "The game is the same between the white lines. J.D. is a fine athlete. He'll do so much good in the community, as he did in Los Angeles, that you can't help but like him."

"He's an excellent outfielder. He's got very good speed. He can score from first on a double and definitely score from second on a single. The fact he doesn't pull the ball is going to make him an effective hitter at Fenway. Not so much for the wall but for the fact on those cold days there, he's going to be able to go the other way and contribute as a hitter."

Sox GM Theo Epstein said that the Sox were convinced Drew would be a solid hitter at Fenway:

"He really has a great swing for Fenway Park," Epstein said. "When he pulls the ball and elevates the ball, it will certainly reach the bullpen. He's got plus raw power. The big dimensions in right field and even center field won't be a problem for him. If you look at his hit chart, those balls get out."

The Sox were also attracted, as Epstein would put it, by the thought of putting a center fielder in right field. Drew's agent, Scott Boras, said Drew has agreed to play either position.

Boras: "You look at what J.D. has done in these last three years. Other than getting hit on the wrist by a ball, this guy has put up numbers. He's an above-average defender. He's a guy that can steal 20-30 bases. He has a very fine throwing arm. He has 25-30 home run power.

"And in Fenway, with the ability for him to go to left field, because he has the ability to spray the ball around, I think it's really going to increase his average and put him in a position playerwise where he has a chance to be a very potent offensive threat."