Earlier this week we heard that the Pittsburgh Pirates viewed Mike Napoli as the perfect fit for first base. The rumor was kind of in the same way that Clayton Kershaw would be the perfect fit for the starting rotation. It’s true, but the odds of Napoli going to the Pirates were slim to none. Now they’re just none, as Napoli has re-signed with the Red Sox.
Napoli two years, $32 million with #RedSox.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2013
Source: Napoli took less to stay with #RedSox. Earlier today talks were at a critical stage. He had at least one bigger offer.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2013
I’ve been talking the last few days about how first base is shaping up to be a buyer’s market. Boston was one of six teams that needed a first baseman, and Napoli was one of the top four first basemen on the free agent market. The teams that still need a first baseman are Milwaukee, Tampa Bay, Houston, Seattle, and Pittsburgh. It’s possible that Houston could stay internal with their younger options. The free agent market still has Kendrys Morales, James Loney, and Corey Hart. That leaves the 1-2 remaining teams going for options on the trade market, which include Ike Davis, Mark Trumbo, Logan Morrison, Mitch Moreland, and Adam Lind.
