Sources say Napoli signs with Sox.

[BSN07]

Why do I care if he is an adequate Catcher? He was brought in to play 1B and on occasion catch and that's if one of the other two catchers go down.

[Bellhorn04]

It's hard not to be an adeqate 1B. But my question is, is he an adequate catcher, especially compared to the low standards last year's crew produced. Because if he is an adequate catcher, 1B is a waste of his abilities.

 

He's not a good defensive catcher. And if he was signed to catch who's going to play first base?

[Dojji]

Salty's played as much 1B as Napoli and is much worse than Napoli as a defensive catcher.

 

Think about it.

 

And frankly, Jerry Sands intrigues me as a 1B prospect enough that I'd like to see him see the light of day before we give up on him.

[BSN07]

Salty is out the door IMO. I do like Sands though. He's be interesting.

[User Name]

Dojji, why do you insist in turning clear subjects into silly arguments? Napoli was brought in to be primarily a 1B with the ability to catch. There's no way to spin it. End of story.

[jung]

Napoli will play as few games behind the plate even as few innings behind the plate as humanly possible. So his catching defense is meaningless or close to it.

 

I am concerned with his defense at 1st base which is also not that good. My concern there is with WMB's throws which were at least last year terrible. If WMB is going to throw like that for a career he is going to need a pretty good 1st base glove over there digging his throws out of the dirt or stretching for them, left...right, up...down....all over the place. While I am on that topic WMB has so far been a defensive improvement over Youk at 3rd but in general has not so far proven to be a solid defensive 3rd baseman. As it is both Napoli and WMB might have to wear shin guards in the field.:D

[RedSoxNC84]

I'm now under the school of thought that Napoli is going to catch for Lackey, those will be the games that he does catch, and maybe then 1b will be Sands/Gomez just for those games.

[BSN07]

I'm now under the school of thought that Napoli is going to catch for Lackey, those will be the games that he does catch, and maybe then 1b will be Sands/Gomez just for those games.

 

Interesting thought

[RedSoxNC84]

Interesting thought

 

From the offseason thread:

 

I kind of can't believe nobody has mentioned this.

 

John Lackey has thrown to Mike Napoli for 399.1 IP, and has a career 3.63 ERA with Napoli as his catcher.

 

EDIT: In those 399.1 IP, opponents have a .693 OPS against Lackey, too.

 

 

This is what makes me think it's going to happen.

[Dojji]

Dojji, why do you insist in turning clear subjects into silly arguments? Napoli was brought in to be primarily a 1B with the ability to catch. There's no way to spin it. End of story.

 

I know what "the plan" is. I just disagree with it because I don't see a rational reason why not to use Napoli at the ultimate high leverage position rather than the ultimate low leverage position when he could, in theory, do either.

[seabeachfred]

Napoli will play as few games behind the plate even as few innings behind the plate as humanly possible. So his catching defense is meaningless or close to it.

 

I am concerned with his defense at 1st base which is also not that good. My concern there is with WMB's throws which were at least last year terrible. If WMB is going to throw like that for a career he is going to need a pretty good 1st base glove over there digging his throws out of the dirt or stretching for them, left...right, up...down....all over the place. While I am on that topic WMB has so far been a defensive improvement over Youk at 3rd but in general has not so far proven to be a solid defensive 3rd baseman. As it is both Napoli and WMB might have to wear shin guards in the field.:D

 

WMB ought to develop into a solid third baseman who will be a fixture for the Red Sox for over a decade unless the team does something stupid and trades him. His throwing will get better with experience and Napoli isn't exactly a total zero at first base. With solid work in ST he will get better. I really can't see anything but a positive take on the Napoli signing. He can play first, catch some games, occasionally DH and he packs some solid RH power in a park where he has had a field day of days in the past. As for his being now a Red Sox, someone ask Jon Lester what he thinks of having him on his side from here on in.

 

Now the Victorino signing? Well I have some doubts about that.

[jung]

I was alarmed at WMB's throws from 3rd last year. That is something that should have developed more fully by now. Guys make better throws more consistently than WMB in AA. Now there is a chance that he just did not get it last year. There was much he seemed to just not get last year that may be immaturity. But the kinds of throwing mistakes he made last year were not even under pressure.....just sloppy. Occasionally he made poor throws under pressure as well but for the most part when his throws were errant he just flung it over there. I don't like his throwing motion from 3rd at all. There are times when he steps and throws the way he should but mostly he prefers that upright stance....throw across his body which makes him look like he is trying to make a second baseman's throw from 3rd. He needs to get rid of that altogether because I have no idea where that is coming from. When he thinks the play is going to be really close, I mean really close he will s***-can that throw for a more traditional 3rd base approach but the other throw is what he uses most often.

 

Napoli is not a zero over at first but he is not ready to dig out the number of WMB throws that Loney and Agons did last year.

[Behindenemylines]

Napoli is a good fit offensively for the Sox. Has put up good numbers at Fenway in his career. I have a couple of concerns though. His defense at 1B is probably below average, and if used some at catcher he will not play 162 at first (He has never had well over 500 AB in a season). Thus there is a need for another position player who can play first and maybe the outfield. Maybe Sands is that guy?

[SoxSport]

The point about Napoli catching for Lackey in LA is a good one--and maybe was an incentive for Napoli to come to Boston.A indication he will be catching as well as playing 1B.

[Lucienbel]

This wouldn't really surprise me a whole lot....hopefully he'll be a full time catcher for Lackey when Lackey first comes back at least, get him broken back in with someone he knows.

[mvp 78]

@Jen_Royle: No comment “@CHERRYINGTON: @Jen_Royle What is this I hear the Napoli deal could fall apart because of his physical? You got anything?”

[redsoxfan3]

@Jen_Royle: No comment “@CHERRYINGTON: @Jen_Royle What is this I hear the Napoli deal could fall apart because of his physical? You got anything?”

 

Just read this. They said that there is no reason to worry about this yet, but it is bizarre that there is a delay with his physical. Hopefully this does not fall through, because I liked the signing.

[SoxSport]

might be a 40 man roster issue that's causing the delay.

[iortiz]

Hopefully this is just about paper work...

[a700hitter]

Leave it to the Red Sox to look like asshats with regard to it's best acquisition of the off season.

[seabeachfred]

Leave it to the Red Sox to look like asshats with regard to it's best acquisition of the off season.

 

If this Napoli thing blows up in Lucchino and Henry's faces as so much has the past few years, they better get their asses in gear and sign both Hamilton and Swisher and to hell with the money. We have it; we need to now spend it, and then use a trade or sign a

fa pitcher or two. I cannot believe the total incompetence of those who run the Red Sox. It is a wonder they weren't exposed for the boobs they are long before this.

[jung]

Ah yes, another example of the Keystone Kops routine down at Fenway.

[jacksonianmarch]

Rumor is he may have failed his physical. If so, the deal is dead

[lospunchados]

There's an espn article that says that J.D. Drew's contract wasn't officially finalized till 52 days after his agent announced it so we'll see, i'm not jumping to conclusions yet.

[Lucienbel]

There's an espn article that says that J.D. Drew's contract wasn't officially finalized till 52 days after his agent announced it so we'll see, i'm not jumping to conclusions yet.

 

I'm interested now. There was a theory proposed that there could be a trade in the works and room on the 40 man is needed for this. We'll see if this is the reason or not. At the moment I agree though, not too concerned quite yet. Won't be until I hear more.

[Lord Snow]

I'm thinking he failed his physical.

 

Something tells me this isn't just Boston working out an injury clause... if that was the case they never would have scheduled an announcement before they knew the deal was finalized.

 

I'm also starting to think that John Henry's investment losses, and Liverpool losses are making him cheap out on the Red Sox. Since Henry became owner the Sox haven't been this frugal.

 

There were a couple of pitchers who were no-brainer signings that should have been made considering the rotation's severe lack of depth but the Sox didn't take the risk. They opted for a $5M left-fielder in Jonny Gomes, a $13M right fielder in Shane Victorino. Neither of which can realistically be expected to contribute very much in 2013 and beyond.

 

They're likely to pass on a very reasonably priced Josh Hamilton. Where else are you going to sign a 40 home run hitter, who is still in his prime, and who posts a decent average and OBP for $100M or less?

 

Part of me thinks JH is trying to keep the payroll down so that the team is more attractive to a new buyer should he decide to sell.

 

Also, did anybody catch the rumor today about the Sox still being in the picture on Swisher? Maybe it's related to the Napoli fallout.

[Station 13]

It could be they want both Nap and Victorino pressers at the same event.

[Lord Snow]

It could be they want both Nap and Victorino pressers at the same event.

 

If that was the case somebody from the FO would have come out and dispelled all the rumors circling about the deal falling apart. All it would take is a text message to Gordon Edes (or any other writer) to set the record straight. Instead this rumor is bound to hit newspapers tomorrow morning.

[jacksonianmarch]

My guess is that they found something that could be chronic and are working in some language to protect themselves if he misses a specified amount of time with said injury

[SoxSport]

I think what's happening here is they want to sign Swisher to play 1B, keep Ells in CF into next year, and play Napoli mainly at catcher. This increases their concern about his ankle. And they have a history of modifying contracts (eg, Drew) because of previous injuries. One regret they may have is AdGon's contract, which omitted any provision about his shoulder. And Adgon hasn't been the same hitter he was in SD since his shoulder op. They were very lucky to get out of his contract.

 

The recent trades may have affected their thinking--they might see Hamilton as staying in Texas now, since Texas didn't get Greinke and Upton isn't being traded because the DBacks got their SS. That means their fallback, Swisher, may now be in play for them--which shifts their thinking somewhat on Napoli--more towards catcher than 1B. Hence, the increased ankle concern.

 

Just some speculation based on what I've read. They have a bunch of money to spend, and I think the value they see is more in Swisher/Hamilton than the pitching. Plus they now have several excellent prospects who could fit into the rotation soon. They are in a position to outbid everybody except the LA Fox teams for anybody they want--except maybe Hamilton, who might take less to stay in Texas.