What are the chances we are going to be able to snag Napoli back from the Sox?

Considering what has transpired since the supposed signing it seems like we should be willing to overpay a bit if in fact we do have a second chance here.

Then again, I suppose that all depends on how serious Napoli's injuries are.

At the very least snag him to hit DH even if he has to take a couple of months off to begin the season.

He said something like "I'm gonna miss you bro" to Elvis on Twitter the other day. There still hasn't been anything definitive explaining the hold up. I'd take him back in a second but not at 3/$39. Maybe 2/$22 with a team option for 2015.

Do you not think the Rangers medical staff knew of Napoli's condition, and that above all else is why he was not tendered in October. The Rangers did not want ,to pay $13 m in 2013 on someone who could not catch without severe and limiting pain, and there of limited and less production. Boston is practically forced to complete the signing, else Napoli could go to the players' union and severely cripple Boston by insisting on the original deal, on the ground alone that the delay and significant passage of time, aka other free agent signings that diminish Napoli's position.

".... the Rangers did not want to pay $13 m in 2013 on someone who could not catch without severe and limiting pain,..."

If there is a medical hangup with Napoli it's probably not just that he couldn't "catch without severe and limiting pain..." The Sox are mostly looking at him, as a first baseman...

MM

I posted this on another forum article recently, but feel it is warranted here as well...

Napoli's career stats...
2006: 268 ab, 51bb, 90k, .228/.360./455
2007: 219 ab, 33bb, 63k, .247/.351/.443
2008: 227 ab, 35bb, 70k, .273/.374/.586
2009: 382 ab, 40bb, 103k, .272/.350/.492
2010: 453 ab, 42bb, 137k, .238/.316/.468
2011: 369 ab, 58bb, 85k, .320/.414/.631 (career bests over at bats)
2012: 352 ab, 56bb, 125k, .227/.343/.469

in other words...
2006: bad (split time)
2007: average (split time)
2008: good (split time)
2009: good (split time)
2010: bad (split time)
2011: bad-average 4 months, great 2.5 months (split time)
2012: bad (split time)

He had a great 2.5 months, but that's pretty much it. I don't get everyone's love for him (especially Newbergs love for him). One could argue that Napoli's lack of contact in situations when we need production (productive outs are still production) seriously hurt the team on a similar level to all th PADMY 6-4-3s.

Personally, Napoli came to Texas with a bad plate approach and leaves Texas the same. I would rather get someone behind the dish with better defensive skills that makes more contact, and when he does get out, has more productive outs.

Flat out, why even bother with the chance of arbitration for someone who had a fleeting moment of heroics over a career of average-below averageness?

Fun name to chant for the fans though. Never seen a guy hit in the .220's and not catch any heat from the fans for it.

easy...we all love the Pete Incaviglia type player

His OPS was solid. Don't think Adam Dunn took too much heat from fans last year. BA is overrated, most around here understand that.

Definitely do NOT want Crapoli back! He, MY and Hams disappeared late last season. Good riddance to all of them!

Seventy8, I'm not looking at batting average when I say he is not the offensive weapon many claim him to be. I watched the games and saw time and again how much he struggled over the last two years. His walk rate was good, but you could throw him the same pitch sequence again and again because he seemed to be mostly looking for fastballs. We dog kinsler because of mammoth pop ups and we should also harp against Napoli for the same thing - more often than not Napoli's outs were not productive.
I believe JD did the right thing in not offering web money even if Napoli is/was fully healthy. It's about production and he didn't produce when we need him to.

His WS performance was legendary. I would definitely want him back. Na-Po-Lee, Na-Po-Lee... Heck, I would take him back just to watch him hit against the Angels.

Like Hamilton, I'm done and have been done with Napoli, since the signing w/Boston.
I've moved on. After last week & Winter Meetings, it looks like Orgs are picking up pace
and deals are hitting the market. Maybe FLA or AZ will wake to reality w/Stanton & Upton?
Maybe w/Texas & Elvis too?
No crying in Baseball!

Slider,
Very true. I was sitting in the stands chanting away with everyone else. I don't wish bad on the guy and am very grateful for his 2.5 month out of body experience that year, but that alone is no reason to say he is worth the money.

MM how does Boston's plans to play Napoli have anything to do with Texas playing him as their primary catcher. The second half of 2011 was an outlier though over his career was/is good for 30hr/75rbi for 500 abs and walk/ k rate resembling a Swisher-like rate when healthy. And that's the rub, else Texas would have signed him, knowing if they didn't they would severely limit their catching options . So if Napoli becomes available, which is not a goof option for Boston, watch how quickly Texas passes on him. Better to sign AJP, he may not be any better on the defensive side, but he will put the ball in play instead of striking out in must-have-contact situations.

Boston now talking to Laroche apparently. If they move on from Napoli, reports are he might have to settle for a short term, cheaper deal. Is there room for him back at TEX at 1B/DH? I would think so.

I would think all options are open on short term deals. A surplus at catcher isn't a bad thing, but we'd need a super utility who can play ss so we can avoid carrying a backup ss and an additional utility infielder. If the ABs would be there for Profar and Olt can play a little corner outfield, then I think all would work out. The Rangers know him better than anyone, so should be interesting to see it unfold if he becomes available again...

JD did say he wanted another bat. I'd like to see Nap back on a short deal. He'd make an ideal DH and it would probably help limit the wear and tear on his body so he could play most of the year.

I may be underestimating Wash's abilities here, but it seems to me keeping a rotation of Napoli/Moreland/Olt 1B, Napoli/Soto/AJP at Catcher, Martin/Cruz/Olt in RF, and Napoli/Cruz/Beltre/AJP/Kinsler at DH would make his head explode.

Haha. I had to laugh at Henchmen's comment. Nice.

As a fan I love Napoli and was chanting along with everyone else during that stretch of amazing baseball he played at the end of 2011 and the playoff run. Having said that, if his return would hinder us being able to trade for an outfield bat (Stanton or Upton) or if he would block plate appearances for Olt or Profar then I have to say no thanks.

If he is only blocking plate appearances for Soto and Moreland then by all means bring him back! Na-Po-Li! You have to admit its a fun chant...

Seems to me Nap would make a pretty nice DH in Texas... not sure who the Rangers plan on using there currently. Olt maybe? AJ when Soto plays?

The Rangers are still looking for another bat ( more Likely by trade: Upton), but could surprise with non-comp bat like Berkman, or a long shot D Young: one more starter: J. Sanchez, Bedard (until Lewis is ready, aka the 2013 Oswalt, hopefully with better results) Jurgens, Wolf or Young OR Lohse, if long term and willing to give up that draft choice, OR a really long shot, but at one time looked upon an a up and coming ACE, snd sure TORP: CARLOS ZAMBRANO. Just picture Zambrano pitching to Pierzynski. The poser would be: Who would charge the mound first - the star clean up hitter he hit for the second time or his own catcher. This battery is definitely worth the price of admission: And one more quality reliever: J.P. Howell, M. Gonzalez, F. Rodriquez, Frasor.

If they don't trade Olt, they need to sign Napoli. No reason wasting a year of his eligibility and lowering his trade value as a part time DH/1B/COF, when he's a beast at 3B. He needs to be shown at his true value. If anything, he can be groomed another year at AAA and bide his time until Beltre leaves. We would need Olt to make sure the $16 mil 2016 vesting option of Beltre's doesn't happen. Who is a better mentor for the #2 3B prospect to learn and transition for the future from?

Why sign Napoli? He has some power and walks but he completely whiffs far too often for his role. His outs are not productive, cannot catch, cannot play an adequate first base and we (fans) do not know the full extent of his injuries. I would argue Moreland fulltime is better than Napoli offensively, defensively and from a cost perspective. Spare me the "Napoli can hit lefties" nonsense. Signing a guy at his cost as a platoon for lefties at first base is a waste of money, space and development for the younger guys.
Lohse - flyball pitcher that costs too much, and a draft pick
Bedard - interesting but we have a younger version with better ceiling in Perez
Jurjains - injured, no strikeouts, flyball pitcher, atlanta basically shelved him last year and ate the money
Wolf - hahahahahah
Bourne - Why???????????????
Berkman - seriously? I get the guy used to be good and had a lightning season with the Cards in 2011, but the body is old, was completely worthless last year and he seems to only want to play for the Astros anyways. Very similar signing to Napoli in that I argue he will not be as productive as a fulltime Moreland/Olt, will not be close defensively to what we need, will cost too much to have around, and will stunt the growth of the younger guys.

Get another bullpen arm, see if a market develops for a starter to eat innings (of those above I would take a chance on Bedard but thats about it.) I really see this team as it currently stands around 85-88 wins. I love that our expectations have changed for this franchise, but we are not operating on a three year window. I would love to see Beltre and Darvish get a ring in that time, and we well may at any point in the next few years, but please don't sell this team short. I think it is going to be a very fun and exciting year of Rangers baseball...we just need to get Kinsler out of the 1-hole and remove Wash...but of those, getting Ian out of the 1-hole is more feasible and would be an immediate boost to the lineup

Napoli would make a good DH / PT 1B / PT Catcher. He has a good OBP, and good power.

I would be fully on board with the original deal the Rangers offered him, @ 2 yrs and $20 million or so with team option for year 3.

Why do you think that BZ? Just curious.