The Grady Sizemore All-Stars: Best Red Sox scrap heap bargains of the last 20 years
By Sean Sylver
Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Napoli (2013)
After slashing .320/.424/.631 in a career year for the Rangers, Napoli slumped to .227/.343/.469 in an injury-plagued 2012. The Red Sox believed, if healthy, he’d be somewhere between the two extremes – at any rate; he could still get on base.
When the Sox pulled back on a three year, $39 million pact due to hip issues, Napoli inked a $5 million deal with incentives up to $13 million. The wolf-like first baseman exceeded expectations, pounding 23 home runs and driving in 92 as a key cog in the 2013 World Series run.