A Red Sox better off with or without him look
By Rick McNair
Jul 23, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli (12) hits an RBI double during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
First base
Red Sox – Mike Napoli
Team rank is 10th in AL 1B with a 0.7 WAR. Team: .215/.310/.395 15 HR 44 RBI
Napoli in Boston for 2015: .207/.307/.386 with 13 HR 41 RBI
Former Red Sox – Adrian Gonzalez
.292/.369/.517 22 HR 69 RBI
Napoli has been in the rumor mill all season and so far there has been little movement. Napoli, in the last year of his contract, will not return to Boston as they will seek other options – the especially internal movement of players.
The Red Sox long displayed a fondness for Gonzalez and eventually won the sweepstakes to bring him to Boston with a trade and sign the included several prospects – most notably Anthony Rizzo.
For A-Gon it just didn’t materialize in Boston and eventually the famed Nick Punto trade sent Gonzalez to the Dodgers where he continues to do what he does best – hit and play a superb defense.
In Boston Gonzalez did produce reasonable numbers in his two seasons slashing .321/.382/.513 with a less than locally expected 42 home runs and 203 RBI.
EDGE – Gonzalez