Red Sox 2018 Free Agency: Four hitters to avoid on the market
By Rick McNair
A visit into the past is Mike Napoli who is again on the available list. Napoli was no great shakes in Boston, but that is really broken into two categories: The on the field Napoli and the off the field Napoli. First the latter. Part of the beards collection Napoli was a noted clubhouse presence. If you needed internal and unbeknownst discipline, then Napoli was you guy. But the hitting?
Napoli slashed .259/.360/.482 for the 2013 season and contributed 23 home runs and 92 RBI. In September Napoli was instrumental in the pennant push with a .333 average and six home runs. Napoli also had a 32.4 K%. In 2015 it was back to Texas and then a reunion with Terry Francona in Cleveland and finally to Texas for 2017.
Next: Increase production by changing batting order
The last two seasons have produced a lot of home runs, strikeouts, and a low batting average. In 2017 the average went south to just .193 and a 33.6 K%. A .225 BABIP does win friend among pitchers who face the deteriorating Napoli. Napoli is on a slide down at 36-years-old may be unemployed.