Sources say Napoli signs with Sox. - Talksox

lospunchados · 12-03-2012, 12:48 PM

Espn is reporting that Mike Napoli has signed a three year 39 million dollar deal with the Sox.

a700hitter · 12-03-2012, 12:51 PM

That seems like a reasonable contract.

BSN07 · 12-03-2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a700hitter

That seems like a reasonable contract.

Indeed, Sox FO made a solid move IMO.

a700hitter · 12-03-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSN07

Indeed, Sox FO made a solid move IMO.

This guy has been killing us for years. Just to take him away as an opposing batter is a big plus. He loves to hit in Fenway.

kapsis21 · 12-03-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a700hitter

This guy has been killing us for years. Just to take him away as an opposing batter is a big plus. He loves to hit in Fenway.

amen to that.. i remember he tortured Lester everytime

wyo-sox · 12-03-2012, 01:55 PM

I think this a good move, but arent there quite a few players that hit good at Fenway or tore up Lester last year?

resdubwhite · 12-03-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyo-sox

I think this a good move, but arent there quite a few players that hit good at Fenway or tore up Lester last year?

one down. 50 odd to go.

good move by the front office.

so begins the drive for respectability.

SCM33 · 12-03-2012, 05:02 PM

Solid move.

Not a ton of money, only 3 years.

Palodios · 12-03-2012, 08:34 PM

This is a phenominal move in many ways.

1) Adding a monster bat to the lineup.
2) Using Vmart as a comparison, the Red Sox seriously underpaid for Napoli. One less year, 500k fewer bucks per year before factoring inflation.
3) No draft pick given up to sign him.
4) Takes yet another catcher off the free agent market place, increasing Salty's trade value.
5) Tells free agents that this team is very serious, without hurting their payroll to a point where it will prevent them from making more signings.

Rdsxmbnt · 12-03-2012, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palodios

This is a phenominal move in many ways.

1) Adding a monster bat to the lineup.
2) Using Vmart as a comparison, the Red Sox seriously underpaid for Napoli. One less year, 500k fewer bucks per year before factoring inflation.
3) No draft pick given up to sign him.
4) Takes yet another catcher off the free agent market place, increasing Salty's trade value.
5) Tells free agents that this team is very serious, without hurting their payroll to a point where it will prevent them from making more signings.

Agreed on all fronts, great move. Fills a huge 1B hole for reasonable money and years

NativeBostonian · 12-03-2012, 09:33 PM

Good move. I can't believe we got him.

VA Sox Fan · 12-03-2012, 09:56 PM

Very psyched!!

Spitball · 12-03-2012, 10:11 PM

I am happy with this signing but not sure I want him as the full-time first baseman. His bat plays better as a catcher.

It is odd Cherington went out last season and signed defensive players like Punto and Shoppack, and now he is signing offensive players like Gomes and Napoli. I'm not sure he knows what his philosophy for building a winner is. Clearly his approach last year was flawed.

Lord Snow · 12-03-2012, 11:13 PM

This move is certainly worrisome. I'm not entirely sold on Napoli, nor do I think he is a good fit for the Red Sox. He is going to be playing a position where teams usually have a premium bat. Mike Napoli is not a premium bat.

At 3 years the contract length is reasonable. I think they overpaid at $39M.

Napoli is 31-years-old, is somewhat overweight, and two of his last 3 seasons have been sub par with a career year sandwiched in between.

Would you still like this move if he comes out next season and puts up a .238/.316/.468/.784 line like he did in 2010? Or if he puts up a .227/.343/.469/.812 line like last season?

While an .812 OPS is acceptable, a .227 average is unacceptable from a starting first baseman. You would tolerate it from a catcher, but at first? I don't like it. And Cherington's moves have all but blocked Napoli from going behind the plate. David Ross is unmovable with that contract. Unless Salty and Lavarnway get moved I don't see Napoli landing behind the dish next season.

2011 is too high above his career averages (and even his second best season) for him to be likely to reproduce.

The one thing I will say about Napoli is that he produced about as well on the road as he did at Texas, which is encouraging.

Only time will tell if this is turns out to be a good move.

I would have preferred Nick Swisher.

Palodios · 12-03-2012, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Snow

[FONT="Georgia"]This move is certainly worrisome. I'm not entirely sold on Napoli, nor do I think he is a good fit for the Red Sox. He is going to be playing a position where teams usually have a premium bat. Mike Napoli is not a premium bat.

The first basemen market is very different than it was a year or two ago. Youk and Miggy moved to third. Pujols and Texeria have declined. A-gon fell off a cliff. Morneau hurting, Votto hurting.

Here are the highest five OPSes of first basemen in 2012:

Encarcion -- .941
Fielder-- .940
Allen Craig .876
Albert Pujols .859
Paul Konerko .857

Napoli has a .870 career OPS despite playing most of his career in LA on his knees.