Red Sox Catching up with old friends: Mike Napoli

First baseman Mike Napoli was a key part of the Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series championship. Where did he go after Boston?

In this weekly series, we are going to take a look at ex-Red Sox plying their trade elsewhere.  The Red Sox have established themselves over the last decade as one of the elite teams in the majors with three titles to their credit in that span. There isn’t as much of that “why did they leave?” sort of feeling with players anymore.  Players with solid Boston careers return to cheers rather than boos (except if they play with the Yankees, of course).

Napoli had a rocky beginning to his Red Sox career in 2013.  His original three-year deal was reduced to a one-year pact after a degenerative hip condition came to light.  The burly first baseman’s  23 homers and mountain man beard of that season set the tone for that season.  Napoli’s booming home run to center field off Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander won Game Three of the American National League, 1-0.  A second homer off Anibal Sanchez in Game Five gave the Sox an early lead in Game Five, spurring them to win the series in six games.  Napoli’s post game carousing after their title win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series is the stuff of legend.  The image of a shirtless Napoli smoking a cigarette in the street is one that will stay with many Red Sox fans for years to come.

In the offseason, the team rewarded his heroics with a two-year deal, which in the end, paid Napoli as much as his original canceled deal.  2014 saw a decline for Napoli which mirrored the team’s struggles.  Napoli’s RBI total fell from 92 to 55 and his OPS from .842 to .789.  In 2015, with free agency looming and Napoli’s bat staying cold (.693 OPS when traded), the Red Sox sent him to one of his old teams, the Texas Rangers for cash.  In Texas, Napoli regained his form, rebounding to a .908 OPS in 91 plate appearances.  To get him in the lineup, the Rangers started Napoli 11 times in left field (though only 50 innings in those games, none completed).

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In 2016, Napoli signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Indians.  He anchored that squad to an American League title and Game Seven of the World Series.  At age 34, Napoli reached career highs as he slugged 34 homers and drove home 101 runs.  After his experience with the 2011 Rangers, who were one out away from the World Series title, another Game Seven loss last season must have been especially painful for Napoli.  With only a small amount of luck, Napoli could have three rings in his trophy case instead of his current one.

This year’s offseason was a strange one in that Napoli’s numbers last year should have convinced a team to give him a two or three-year deal.  Perhaps his age (35) and that looming hip condition scared teams away.   Napoli was only able to secure a one-year deal on February 16, for his third tour of duty with the Rangers, with an option for 2018.  Naturally, no one with a regular job is going to feel sorry for a professional athlete, but Napoli seemed to be shortchanged somewhat considering last season’s success.

Next: Red Sox earn their first win of 2017

Fans certainly would have loved to see Napoli back with the Red Sox for another title run, but with Hanley Ramirez with two years still left on his $88 million deal, and hot first base prospect Sam Travis waiting in the wings, that wasn’t a possibility.  However Napoli’s career ends up, he will certainly have a special place in the hearts of Red Sox fans for that magical 2013 season.