The Red Sox and Mike Napoli have agreed to a one-year deal worth $5 million with incentives that could bring the total value to $13 million, major league sources confirmed.
The incentives would be based on whether Napoli spends any time on the disabled list due to a hip injury. Napoli originally agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal in December that was held up after concerns arose with his physical.
Comments
Just what the team needed: another Dr. Stoneglove at first, to complement Jonny Gomes's defense in left. Can't wait to see these clowns box and bat the ball around in the field. Meanwhile, isn't Adam LaRoche still unsigned? Arrgghh.
LaRoche resigned with the Nationals.
I feel much better with this deal than the three year, 39 million dollar one. The team is protected. Napoli gets to prove he can do the job at first and that he's not damaged goods. If he has a good season, his value goes up next year...he's still got some good years ahead at 31. I don't care who the player is, if he plays the same position regularly, he will get better defensively. Of course that's all relative. He might turn out to be a butcher at first. 133 games in a whole career isn't the same thing as 133 games in a season. Meanwhile...he's still insurance at catcher.