Red Sox Rumors: Team in Serious Pursuit of Mike Napoli
The Boston Red Sox may settle their void at DH by bringing back a former player who has had success with the team.
The search for David Ortiz’s replacement could end with a familiar face. As reported by Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Boston Red Sox are one of three teams in serious pursuit of free agent power hitter Mike Napoli.
Heyman reported that the 35-year-old slugger could have his choice between three former teams. Besides the Red Sox, the Cleveland Indians are interested in bringing him back and the Texas Rangers also have a strong interest in Napoli. The other two teams interested are the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros.
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Now, while Napoli is not the sexy choice to take over the DH role, he makes sense for two reasons.
First, Napoli has had success in Boston and could provide leadership as well as character. He was a key contributor on the team during their 2013 World Series championship and certainly still has the power to fill some of the void left by Ortiz.
The second reason he makes sense is that he would be a cheap, short-term replacement. The type of player Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said he was searching for as a replacement for Big Papi.
"“Do you want to tie up that one spot with one individual?” Dombrowski said at the GM Meetings earlier this month. “I’m not sure. So if you said, ‘One year’, well, maybe one year is different. But from a longterm basis, do you want to do that? I’m not sure.”"
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Napoli would come quite a bit cheaper than top free agent Edwin Encarnacion who is seeking a four- or five-year contract. He may also come a little cheaper than Carlos Beltran, another player the Red Sox have interest in.
In 150 games last season with Cleveland, Mike Napoli batted .239 with 35 home runs. Those numbers are a reason Boston has interest in bringing back one of their bearded brothers. With a lineup that includes Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Hanley Ramirez and a young Andrew Benintendi, a player like Napoli could fit right in.
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