Sources say Napoli signs with Sox.

[Behindenemylines]

At this point I'd be fine ditching Napoli and going for Laroche.

 

Gold glovers at 1st, 2nd, RF, CF, SS(close enough) plus David Ross's cannon at C, and a solid defender at 3B. The pitching isn't very good right now, so maybe having an elite-elite defense behind them would be more important than the small boost in offense that Napoli would provide over Laroche.

 

I always wanted LaRoche over Napoli. He gives you the offence, but also has a solid glove.

[a700hitter]

This delayed signing with Napoli is ridiculous. If they don't like his medicals, void the deal and move on. They spent such a long time on the JD Drew contract writing out injuries to this shoulder. Guess what happened. JD never said that his shoulder hurt, but he missed dozens of other games for tons of other reasons. It's an exercise in futility. It will save the team nothing.

[jung]

So would I Pal. LaRoche is the guy I wanted them to snag all along.

[a700hitter]

So would I Pal. LaRoche is the guy I wanted them to snag all along.

Me three.

[Rdsxmbnt]

This delayed signing with Napoli is ridiculous. If they don't like his medicals, void the deal and move on. They spent such a long time on the JD Drew contract writing out injuries to this shoulder. Guess what happened. JD never said that his shoulder hurt, but he missed dozens of other games for tons of other reasons. It's an exercise in futility. It will save the team nothing.

 

They worked out an injury contract with Lackey and basically that stipulation got them a free year extra. Therefore I think these details do matter, even if they don't always vest.

[jung]

I think the interesting part is how tightly they make the language and how much resistance comes back from the player's legal team as a result.

 

The Sox at least had enough language in Lackey's contract to get something for it. However you have to remember that Lackey probably could no longer throw at the point where he finally threw in the towel and went for the surgery. I don't think there is much of any chance that he could have thrown last year.

 

The general feeling expressed by some in the media appears to be that JD Drew adroitly danced around the language in his contract all the way up until the last year in which case it no longer mattered.

 

So I suspect the Sox believe there is a lesson in there for them someplace and they are probably trying to tighten up the language. Could be interesting to see how Napoli's people respond if this is in fact what is happening now.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I haven't been paying much attention to what's been going on, but Napoli's physical is holding things up this long supposedly? Why are they still bothering? Get Swisher or something, damn.

[seabeachfred]

Watch this Napoli thing go on for weeks with the agreement finally falling apart, and the Sox in need of a 1B again.

 

Be grateful about one thing Lines. If the Rays hadn't stepped in and signed Loney, Fredo would have snapped him up and we'd be playing the worst offensive iB in baseball for the next two years. As far as the falling apart is concerned, are you becoming convinced that our front office is about as inept as any in baseball? They most likely will blow another signing as they seem to have become adept at the past few years.

[onlybereaved]

I personally wouldn't mind if the Napoli deal feel through and we went full out to get Swish regardless of his being a contract longer/more expensive than we wanted to get involved with. We can just have Nick be the everyday 1st B guy and use the surplus of catchers we already have.

 

Mind you, I just have a feeling that Swisher would be more productive and a better all-round investment than Napoli...at the same time I am not hating on Napoli.

[a700hitter]

They worked out an injury contract with Lackey and basically that stipulation got them a free year extra. Therefore I think these details do matter, even if they don't always vest.

Let's see how that works out with Lackey before we crow about it.

[Spudboy]

Dojji will be crushed if the Napoli deal falls through. I think you guys may be overreacting a bit. But who knows?

[TutGadol]

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.

 

Good points. Are there many Salty trade rumors though? Wouldn't they'll play Naps at first? I've been out of the loop for a while.

[redsoxfan3]

Dojji will be crushed if the Napoli deal falls through. I think you guys may be overreacting a bit. But who knows?

 

I for one like the Napoli deal the best out of all of the others this offseason. I am biased because I do like him as a player. I know that we have to be patient for the deal, but the longer it takes, the more likely we are going to be put in a bad situation. It might not take too much longer for guys like LaRoche and Swisher to sign. If the Napoli deal falls through, then we are going to be in a situation where Sands and Gomez are our options at 1B if Swisher or LaRoche are not available. I understand that it might take some time, but it has been almost two weeks since we agreed to terms with him. I anticipate something is going to be done soon, but that is just speculation.

[Behindenemylines]

So would I Pal. LaRoche is the guy I wanted them to snag all along.

 

With are luck LaRoche would resign with Nats before we get this Napoli contract settled one way or the other. It seems the FO is always a step behind on every player they claim they have an interest in.

[seabeachfred]

I for one like the Napoli deal the best out of all of the others this offseason. I am biased because I do like him as a player. I know that we have to be patient for the deal, but the longer it takes, the more likely we are going to be put in a bad situation. It might not take too much longer for guys like LaRoche and Swisher to sign. If the Napoli deal falls through, then we are going to be in a situation where Sands and Gomez are our options at 1B if Swisher or LaRoche are not available. I understand that it might take some time, but it has been almost two weeks since we agreed to terms with him. I anticipate something is going to be done soon, but that is just speculation.

 

RS3, I think this is one of the best posts I've read in the last week. Simplicity to the core, full of sound insight and a warning to the front office to not let this sit u ation get out of hand. You are so right. If Cherington dawdles on the Napoli problem he will look up an see Swisher and LaRoche fall off the board---and we cannot afford to have a dork like Gomez playing first base for us next year. Get the Napoli problem solved or walk away and get one of those other two signed pronto!!!! I hope it works out with Mike but I think time is of the essence. We can't wait much longer for this to adjuticate itself.

[redsoxfan3]

RS3, I think this is one of the best posts I've read in the last week. Simplicity to the core, full of sound insight and a warning to the front office to not let this sit u ation get out of hand. You are so right. If Cherington dawdles on the Napoli problem he will look up an see Swisher and LaRoche fall off the board---and we cannot afford to have a dork like Gomez playing first base for us next year. Get the Napoli problem solved or walk away and get one of those other two signed pronto!!!! I hope it works out with Mike but I think time is of the essence. We can't wait much longer for this to adjuticate itself.

 

Thank you, seabeachfred. I am just trying to be as realistic as possible. I am sure Cherington is well aware of the circumstances, but at the same time, time is not on his side. If they KNOW for 100% that they will be able to work out whatever "snag" they are having with Napoli, then I am completely fine with him taking time. However, if he is not sure if Napoli is going to work out, then they need to start picking up the pace so we can sign either LaRoche or Swisher if this deal falls through. There is no reason to jump overboard on this like I have seen a couple of my friends do, but we cannot sit around and wait too much longer.

[iortiz]

Is this just me or this Napoli signing should be void at this point. This doesn't smell well at all.

[jung]

Well if in fact they are trying to negotiate language that is tighter than the Drew language, I would say that at the very least Napoli's attorneys would have to review it and unlike other kinds of negotiations they likely would not counteroffer but would instead just point to the language that they are unwilling to accept and ask the Sox to try again using different language.

 

All by way of saying that if this is what is going on.....this could easily be a very long process. I might even suggest that since there are no guarantees of success, the Sox might be best served killing the deal and finding somebody else.

[NZSox]

Not sure if this was ever posted, but confirms what most of us think/know:

 

Will Carroll @injuryexpert

Hearing that the Napoli deal back in negotiations, with team asking Napoli to take less years but same AAV. Swisher Plan B.

[jung]

Well that suggests that they are right back where I thought the Sox should have started with this whole process. Sounds to me like the Sox proposed different language in the contract....Napoli's people rejected and the Sox counter offer is fewer years at the same AAV. Brilliant....Offer the player what you think he is worth, with his existing injuries taken into account. Either the player accepts or he does not.

 

An existing injury should be addressed in the basic terms of the contract not with a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo. Once again I think the Sox are going to end up looking like buffoons.

[iortiz]

Not sure if this was ever posted, but confirms what most of us think/know:

 

Swisher shouldn't be Plan B. He should be signed regardless what happens with Napoli. if you do not sign Napoli, Sign LaRoche AND Swisher.

[dupree]

Swisher shouldn't be Plan B. He should be signed regardless what happens with Napoli. if you do not sign Napoli, Sign LaRoche AND Swisher.

 

Id rather have LaRoche and Swisher any ways i like LaRoche LHB and he plays great defense sign him to 3 years go 4 or 5 on Swisher and then look to deal Iggy for a pitcher

[a700hitter]

Swisher shouldn't be Plan B. He should be signed regardless what happens with Napoli. if you do not sign Napoli, Sign LaRoche AND Swisher.

Now you are talking crazy. If the Red Sox did that, they could be contenders. Everybody has given up hope of contending until at least 2015. I'm not quite sure why that is.:dunno:

[iortiz]

Now you are talking crazy. If the Red Sox did that, they could be contenders. Everybody has given up hope of contending until at least 2015. I'm not quite sure why that is.:dunno:

 

IMO, We are three moves away in order to be contenders next yer. You need a 1B, OF and another solid arm (#2).

 

I don't think that it is to much to ask, right?

[a700hitter]

IMO, We are three moves away in order to be contenders next yer. You need a 1B, OF and another solid arm (#2).

 

I don't think that it is to much to ask, right?

You will not get an argument from me. In fact, I think the first base and OF could be just 1 move.

[NZSox]

FYI:

 

Tom Singer ‏@Tom_Singer

#Pirates killer Adam LaRoche (.500-3-9 in 5 Gs) waiting to see if #RedSox Napoli deal falls through. That 3-$39M could trickle down to him

 

Regarding the FO choosing Napoli over LaRoche: It says to me that they want to trade Salty. Signing LaRoche would be good in its own right, he's a good 1B (better than Nap no less), but we'd probably not trade Salty. So it's like: Napoli + pitching help via Salty trade, or LaRoche.

[redsoxfan3]

IMO, We are three moves away in order to be contenders next yer. You need a 1B, OF and another solid arm (#2).

 

I don't think that it is to much to ask, right?

 

I am content with Napoli at 1B. We still have been in contact with Swisher, so I hope we can sign him. Hopefully the Napoli deal does not fall through. Swisher playing 1B and RF and Napoli being able to play 1B and C is a plus. It takes one more top of the rotation arm, and we are in a good position. I am afraid that BC thinks the rotation is set.

[SoxSport]

They are only about $9mil below the cap with Napoli. Subtract him, and that leaves room for one signing.Swisher or LaRoche. I doubt they will sign either. Napoli will get signed eventually, maybe for 2 years or 3years with some conditional clauses about his hip. JD Drew took 52 days to sign because of his shoulder, which was never a problem 5 years with the Red Sox.

[jung]

Drew danced around the language in his contract most of his time here. He did have shoulder issues but the language in his contract was not strongly enough worded to keep him from dancing around it. That is precisely why the Sox are taking so much time with this Napoli contract. They are trying to avoid the Drew situation. However I think Napoli's people are likely to consider dropping back on the years at the same per annum as something of a bait and switch and pull out.

[Palodios]

IMO, We are three moves away in order to be contenders next yer. You need a 1B, OF and another solid arm (#2).

 

I don't think that it is to much to ask, right?

 

I think Napoli is going to be the 1B. The OF is either going to come from inside the organization (Brentz/Bradley/Kalish), or from a midseason trade. No clue what is going on with pitching.