Boston Red Sox Free Agent Targets: Mike Napoli
By Sean Penney
The BoSox Injection staff looks at players available on the free agent market that the Boston Red Sox may have interest in this offseason.
The Boston Red Sox made tremendous progress in 2016, climbing out of the basement of the division to win the AL East. This worst-to-first turnaround can partially be attributed to moves that the front office made last winter to upgrade the roster, but the team’s early playoff exit shows us that further upgrades are needed.
There will be holes to fill on this Red Sox roster if the team intends to take the next step toward the ultimate goal of a championship. While there are many avenues the team can take to improve, free agency will be a primary focus for a Red Sox team willing to spend.
Up next in our free agent target series is Cleveland Indians first baseman Mike Napoli.
Why he fits
To see how Napoli would fit on this Red Sox team, one only needs to look back a couple of seasons. Boston signed the veteran in 2013, converting him from a catcher into a full-time first baseman. Napoli spent about two and half seasons in Boston before being traded at the deadline to the Texas Rangers when the Red Sox began spiraling toward their second consecutive losing season.
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While the end of Napoli’s tenure here was marred by the disappointment of an underachieving roster, we can’t forget that he was a vital part of bringing a championship to Boston in 2013. He followed a strong debut regular season with the Red Sox with a memorable postseason that included a pair of home runs in the ALCS – each of which came in what ultimately ended in a one-run contest.
An underrated aspect of what Napoli brought to that championship team was what he contributed inside the clubhouse. The team’s culture had become toxic under the regrettable Bobby Valentine season, forcing the Red Sox to make massive changes. The front office pushed a few disgruntled players out the door, dumped salary and overhauled the roster with an emphasis on team chemistry. Napoli was one of those guys that helped improve morale and fans quickly embraced him as a fan favorite.
The Red Sox aren’t in need of a drastic culture change this time, but they could use another veteran leader to guide the team’s young core now that David Ortiz is stepping aside.
Napoli spent 2016 with the Cleveland Indians, aiding their path to the AL pennant with one of the best seasons of his career. He set career-highs with 34 home runs, 101 RBI, 133 hits and 78 walks.
Napoli adapted quickly to first base when he arrived in Boston four years ago. While his defense has slipped since then to fall a bit below average, he’s still capable of manning the position. This would allow Hanley Ramirez to slide into the designated hitter role, or he and Napoli could split time between those roles.
Why he doesn’t fit
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Everything Napoli brought to that 2013 team overshadows that he was hitting a mere .207 with a .693 OPS at the time he was traded in 2015. The change in scenery did wonders to salvage his season, as he finished strong in Texas with the playoff hunt fueling him, but there are still warning signs to beware of for a player now in his mid-30’s.
The power and run production may have been career-highs, but he still only hit .239 and had the second most strikeouts in the league with 194. He still knows how to draw a walk, but his dwindling batting average leaves him with a middling OBP, which was once one of his best assets.
Combine that with his declining defense and Napoli was worth only 1.0 WAR last season, his lowest mark since he was a part-time player in 2007.
Will they sign him?
Napoli is one of a number of power bats on the market capable of replacing a significant portion of the void in the lineup left by the retirement of Ortiz, but the 35-year old isn’t going to command the salary that the likes of Edwin Encarnacion and Mark Trumbo are aiming for. If the Red Sox are looking for cheaper alternatives, a probable outcome if the luxury tax doesn’t rise in the new CBA, Napoli becomes an appealing pivot from the top names on the market.
He’s not without his flaws, but some of the risk would be mitigated if he can be signed to a shorter commitment than what it would take for the top-tier bats.
Next: Red Sox to target lefty bats
Plus, Red Sox fans already love the guy, so the team can certainly do worse than bringing the party at Napoli’s back to Boston.
Interest level: Mediocre