IT HAD TO BE DREW: J.D. FINALLY SIGNS WITH CARDINALS

          After "more than a year of haggling and standing firm
     on principles and going through two drafts," first-round MLB
     draft pick J.D. Drew signed a four-year, $7M major league
     contract with the Cardinals which could reach $9M with
     roster bonuses and various incentives, according to Mike
     Eisenbath of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.  Drew received a
     $3M signing bonus, a team record.  The contract has "no
     guarantee that he will be included on the big-league roster
     at any time."  Drew, drafted by the Phillies in '97, held
     out for the entire '97 season, seeking an $11M contract. 
     (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/4).  Cards 1B Mark McGwire, who
     has been "critical" of Drew, on the reaction Cards players
     will have toward Drew: "I'm sure guys will give him heat. 
     I'm sure guys will give him some jarring -- but all in fun -
     - because he's on our team.  But you know what?  If you
     start producing, the heat goes away" (POST-DISPATCH, 7/4).  
          REAX: In Philadelphia, Jayson Stark wrote that MLB
     should "set a torch" to its June baseball draft.  Stark:
     "What's the point of even having it anymore?  Now that the
     going rate for totally unproven amateur players is $7
     million to $11 million, thanks to the Cardinals, the quasi-
     bankrupt teams that are supposed to benefit from the draft
     can't even afford to have a decent pick" (INQUIRER, 7/5). 
     Fox's Steve Lyons called the Cardinals' signing of Drew "a
     joke. ... They absolutely sold their soul" (Fox, 7/4).