Sox sign Napoli

[BSN07]

Also reading he turned down a bigger offer from Texas. Yanks over paying everyone in years and money and players taking discounts to be on the Sox, awesome haha

[SoxFanForsyth]

Your offseason isn't over guys. You're losing a pretty damned good CFer. You'd better sign a right handed CFer capable of handling the job should JBJ completely melt under the pressure again

 

Well to be fair, the Sox won 97 games last year. If JBJ can put up a 2-3 WAR, which, given his defense isn't crazy by any means, the Sox would lose 3 wins, and still gives them 93-94 wins. So they can certainly go in as constructed and would still be the favorites to win the East

 

That said, I agree that they need to get another stick for CF.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes. Keep up the great work Benny.

[vjcsmoke]

Also reading he turned down a bigger offer from Texas. Yanks over paying everyone in years and money and players taking discounts to be on the Sox, awesome haha

 

I wouldn't call 16m a discount. I think that's the far market price considering he was signed for 13m per before this season. But what I really like about this deal is that it is only 2 years in length. No long term commitment to our cap dollars. Napoli is a big resigning for the Sox. We can proceed from here.

[User Name]

So because it's two years at 16 million, for a total value of 32 million, instead of the 3/45 projected (and someone offered a third year per reports), isn't the 13 million saved on a potential third year a discount?

[marklmw]

Sounds like some teammates asked the Red Sox to increase their offer, the Red Sox upped their offer by $2 million and Napoli took a discount to come back knowing that his teammates went out of their way to ask that he come back. All of the work the front office did to create an enjoyable atmosphere in the clubhouse is paying dividends. Chemistry doesn't win games, but it sure helps when players like Pedroia, Victorino, Napoli and Lester are willing to leave money on the table to play for us.

 

Red Sox have approximately $6.5 million left to spend, but they also have six starters and eight relievers. They could free up another $13-14.5 million by trading Dempster or Peavy. The Diamondbacks are reportedly looking for a veteran starting pitcher and they have two shortstops. We could trade Dempster or Peavy for Didi Gregorious or Chris Owings and we'd have our bench player. That would give us the salary to sign Choo (if his contract demands are reasonable) or Hart. If we sign Hart, we could trade Gomes and free up another $5 million. If the Dodgers get really desperate we could trade for Kemp, but I'm not crazy about the idea. Jackie Bradley Jr. will be fine. But just in case, I'd sign an elite defensive player like Tony Gwynn Jr. to a minor league contract as insurance.

 

There's plenty of salary room to continue to improve. And we have plenty of trade chips both at the major league level and in the minors. The Winter Meetings haven't even started yet.

 

Good post! ... I like the idea of Hart replacing Gomes ... but don't tell MVP. I do not think Hart will end up in Boston based on a few interviews that I have read.

Kemp would be a pretty interesting buy low opportunity ... any prospects that go back to LA would have a 30% chance of becoming something special especially should Owens & Cecchini remain on our do-not-trade list.

Edited December 7, 2013 by marklmw

[Behindenemylines]

Nap gives Papi some protection in the lineup. His power numbers, D at 1B, and the $$$ the Sox spent its a win win. Since everything the Sox do is compared to the $panks, who would you rather have at 1B going into 2014? Nap who put up decent numbers and had big hits in October, or Tex who is coming off an injury that could effect a power hitter into next season.

[seabeachfred]

But that's the thing. We're not desperate to fill holes, our roster could contend as constructed, so we can go out looking for the luxury moves that make sense, ones that help us next year but don't put us in trouble going forward. And we don't really have to make any moves at all unless they are slam dunks. That's a fantastic place to be.

 

I see where Hoplite is getting at Dojii but I'm with you on this.....we are just about set. We need a decent utility infielder who can play three positions, and a RH hitting outfielder who can play CF and spell Jackie when it is necessary, and only when it's necessary. We are not desperate to fill holes and as I said last night, silly or not, I really feel we are just about ready and good to go.

[marklmw]

I see where Hoplite is getting at Dojii but I'm with you on this.....we are just about set. We need a decent utility infielder who can play three positions, and a RH hitting outfielder who can play CF and spell Jackie when it is necessary, and only when it's necessary. We are not desperate to fill holes and as I said last night, silly or not, I really feel we are just about ready and good to go.

We do seem to have our starting line-up in place now. Do we now continue to acquire other full time players to use as subs or for upgrade purposes. It gets a little expensive when you are paying 11 full time players (assuming 2 are catchers). On the other side of the equation we will be paying 3 of these players league minimum. (JBJ, WMB, Bogaerts) and so from this point of view we do have the option. For example Kemp@16m vs. Kemp & JBJ at 16.5m, Drew & Bogaerts at 13.5m or Drew, Bogaerts & WMB at 14m It would not be the end of the world to be averaging 10M per full time position (including DH). I do believe that the FO is building their pen to not include Dempster in 2014 so that could be another 10M off our overall pitching budget.

[Orange Juiced]

I see where Hoplite is getting at Dojii but I'm with you on this.....we are just about set. We need a decent utility infielder who can play three positions, and a RH hitting outfielder who can play CF and spell Jackie when it is necessary, and only when it's necessary. We are not desperate to fill holes and as I said last night, silly or not, I really feel we are just about ready and good to go.

 

I think Rajai Davis (if he's still available…) is a perfect answer to your bolded point. He's 33, so past his prime, and he has a below-average ops+ (88 in 2012, 87 for his career), but he does offer a little defense, can play multiple OF positions, and has crazy great speed, so even if he doesn't spell JBJ in a given game, he could still be a very nice pinch-runner late in a game. Given his age and ops+ numbers, I don't think he would command a lot, or even necessarily expect to start on a team like Boston. The most he's ever made in a season is 2.75 million in 2012.

[User Name]

.818 OPS vs lefties last three years, including an .857 mark in 2013.

[Orange Juiced]

.818 OPS vs lefties last three years, including an .857 mark in 2013.

 

Honestly, he seems like a pretty perfect fit for what the Sox might need at this point.

[marklmw]

Your offseason isn't over guys. You're losing a pretty damned good CFer. You'd better sign a right handed CFer capable of handling the job should JBJ completely melt under the pressure again

 

Jacko ... you usually write intelligent stuff but this comment against JBJ is complete nonsense.

[marklmw]

I will not be surprised if Bogaerts works his way into the top half of the order by mid-season. The kid is a natural.

[Navafan29]

Nap was the most important guy to get back. He's gonna be hitting them off the monster all year long.

[Behindenemylines]

Nap was the most important guy to get back. He's gonna be hitting them off the monster all year long.

 

His D at first was also a positive for the Sox. You can live with the Ks if he is putting up the decent power numbers and giving you solid glove at 1B.

[Spudboy]

I am wicked pleased that the Sox were able to retain Nap. He has developed into a top tier if not gold glove quality 1st baseman and he has big time pop.

 

Many seem to be dissatisfied with his frequent Ks. Too bad! I like the fact that he sees so many pitches and that he is a threat behind Ortiz.

 

Lastly, unlike so many disingenuous players that come to the Sox, Nap has truly embraced living and playing in Boston. His inebriated and bare shirted bar hopping tour post series has endeared him to the Sox fan base.

 

I'm looking for him to have about the same level of production this year as he did in 2013.

 

Oh, Doji was right not only about Nava but about Nap as well.