Bowden tweeted the Red Sox want him to sign a 1 year deal now. If true, would you guys rather him be brought back on that 1 year deal. Seems like the perfect fall back to Justin Upton and a great RH power bat. He would still see a ton of at bats splitting time between AJP, Puma and Mitch since all are LH. Plus he's a fan favorite. Soto being the 3rd catcher and personal guy for Darvish could work too. You guys like or dislike the idea?

There's not a whole lot of room, considering his bat is still probably good enough to be an everyday player, unless someone else is traded or demoted (my first guess would be Mitch) but I sure would like all his walks and homers. I wouldn't miss all the Ks, though. Right now though, it looks like we have 2 spots on the 25 up for position players, and between those 2, we'll need someone(s) that back up 2B/SS/3B.

This is something we talked about before, but Young would actually be decent in that role. Of course, we know that if he were still here he'd probably be playing every day, which is why that wouldn't work.

Sign Nap for one year and trade Soto to the Yankees for Aardsma and a prospect

Dealing with a ton of if's with Napoli.

(a) Is he going to start the season healthy?
(b) If healthy, do you trust his legs enough to be our backup catcher?
(c) Do you trust his legs enough to make him the every day 1B?
(d) Do you basically exhaust all the remaining money in the budget on a question mark?

At this point, I have a hard time getting behind a Napoli-to-Texas reunion. It's pretty significant that Boston went from wanting to give 3/39, down to a one-year deal. That makes me think they are only about 50/50 confident that he'll be available to play, in any capacity, without taking a bulk of the time off.

I like Nap. but, I'd have to agree with Andy and Eric, here.

Peace

Sign Nap. Trade Cruz. Net +2WAR.

I agree with everything you guys are saying. Question though, and I can't remember at all, doesn't Wash prefer having a 3rd catcher on the bench? Didn't we have a spare riding the bench last year? I don't recall the name if we did. I think a backup utility will be cheap. It not like he would play the field all that much knowing Wash if Olt and Profar are at AAA. Obviously it depends on cost, but if you told me an $8-10 mil 1 year deal for Napoli could bring him back, I would be hard pressed to say no. Just provides a little more lineup flexibility, power and insurance for injuries. I'm pretty sure no one wants to see Puma at 1B. We would destroy lefties too.

This ship sailed a couple months ago. Let it be. No room in the inn.

Sign Nap. Trade Cruz. Net +2WAR.

Play Napoli in right field?

Unless Napoli has made a recent pilgrimage to Lourdes, you are dealing with damaged goods. Keep also in mind that 2012 is more typical of his career then 2011 by a long stretch. Backing AJP [ who during his career is a 120-130 games a year backstop], he would only be asked to catch 30 to 50 games. So is $10-15m range worth a back up catcher, when that payroll can be used to sign a viable free agent starter [ Bedard, Marcum, Sanchez or even Lohse]. The Rangers have already passed on Nap once, the second time will take even much less time to consider. All indications is that Boston still wants to sign Napoli, and the two sides will work something out. A more intriguing name as a 25th player and super-U is FREDDY SANCHEZ, though have not heard his name mentioned much. He is injury-prone, did not even play in 2012, is 35 [veteran presence], over a 10 year career has a lifetime ba of .297 with very solid defense, but would strictly be signed as a backup, and as such for about $1 TO 2m range. Primarily a second baseman of late, has had 55 games at short and 172 games at third. Thoughts on Sanchez?

The decision not to make a qualifying offer to Napoli doesn't look so stupid now. Sure seems like the Rangers knew the issues with him when others didn't. Now Nap is out there without many suitors, perceived as damaged goods and looking at short-term deals. That's a long way from 2011-12 off-season when most of the Rangers fans base were ready to back up the Brinks truck to sign him at any cost.

The Rangers OFFERED him that Brinks truck... he thought he could get more... then, he got hurt.

Oops.

@MrMan

I agree 100%. Most of us believed it was a major mistake not offering him the 1/$13.3M qualifying offer, being that he was signed elsewhere @ $13 million AAV. Once again the Rangers appear ahead of the game.

Crazy that people we talking about a $50-$60+ million deal after his amazing 2011. Looks like we dodged a bullet there. And once more, goddamn that Game 6.

Well at least Newberg agree's with me.

Gotta feel for Napoli. He is getting hosed by Boston if they really are firm about a one year deal.

Outfield should be Murphy, Gentry, Martin, with Borbon. Butler will be up for part of the year as a RH bat. This is if Rangers sign Nap and trade Cruz, salary neutral.

Butler is an organizational player, not a viable outfield option. He's behind Murphy/Cruz/Martin/Gentry/Beltre/Borbon on the curve.

"Hosed?" I don't think so. Naps rolled the dice and lost. The Rangers are lucky to have had him when we did, and lucky to not extend a qualifying offer. Nope,
'no vacancy."

Have no interest in Nap. But I don't like Boston playing hardball after the announcement. Physicals should be performed at the beginning of the FA period. I see the merits from Boston's viewpoint, but dropping 3 yrs to 1 is egregious.

Unless Napoli has made a recent pilgrimage to Lourdes, you are dealing with damaged goods. Keep also in mind that 2012 is more typical of his career then 2011 by a long stretch. Backing AJP [ who during his career is a 120-130 games a year backstop], he would only be asked to catch 30 to 50 games. So is $10-15m range worth a back up catcher, when that payroll can be used to sign a viable free agent starter [ Bedard, Marcum, Sanchez or even Lohse]. The Rangers have already passed on Nap once, the second time will take even much less time to consider. All indications is that Boston still wants to sign Napoli, and the two sides will work something out. A more intriguing name as a 25th player and super-U is FREDDY SANCHEZ, though have not heard his name mentioned much. He is injury-prone, did not even play in 2012, is 35 [veteran presence], over a 10 year career has a lifetime ba of .297 with very solid defense, but would strictly be signed as a backup, and as such for about $1 TO 2m range. Primarily a second baseman of late, has had 55 games at short and 172 games at third. Thoughts on Sanchez?

Last year was actually below what Napoli has shown throughout his career. I'd actually be fine with him playing less catcher, because it perhaps gives him less chance to get injured. Injuries are probably what hampered him and resulted in the dramatic reduction on offense. I'd pay 10 mill for a guy who can get on base at a .350+ clip and hit 30 bombs while playing some catcher and 1B. And we need the RH bat.

As for Freddy Sanchez, we will have two talented super utility infielders next season in Profar and Leury Garcia. Not a need.

I am with you, Jason, especially it this forces a trade of Cruz. Adding Nap and subtracting Cruz will give Wash one less toy to play with. This will improve the outfield defense, and maybe offense too, and be salary neutral, will provide better for injuries and even maybe save Borbon. Nap-o-leeeee

@Jason: Profar will almost certainly not be a UIF. If he isn't going to play most days, he's going to be in AAA. He needs to keep developing, and languishing on the bench 4-5 days a week in Texas won't help that. Olt was brought up to play, and he didn't get to (and we all have a good idea about that), so we essentially wasted more than a month of him. They won't make the same mistake with Profar.

Wow. Been gone a while and people are still talking about Napoli?

Lets trade for Josh Hamilton too.

Ditto Andy. Perhaps the worst aspect of the Olt fiasco is that it probably diminished his trade value. My fear is this nightmare will continue with Profar next season.

The Napoli situation may demonstrate more than anything how far Red Sox Nation has slipped since losing Epstein. The Sox offered Nap a contract, he evidently signed the agreement. Then they want to re-negotiate ! Physicals is/should be a formality, a team will ask for health records, even from another club, this has evolved out of mutual need courtesy. So the Red Sox knew or should have known of his condition prior to offering a 3 year contract. If this contract does not go down after such a long time, a time when Napoli could sign somewhere else, and with a far better deal then if he is back to being a free agent. To give a fore instance, several years ago the Rangers signed Webb to a $3m contract knowing he needed rehab first, and this year signed Soria to a two year deal knowing he was coming off TJ. and would not be in the Opening Day 25. Yes, it was for much lower $$, but it also was a multiple year contract. So I wonder where a free agent player choosing between similar offers from the Sox and the Rangers, and hearing others tell him 'they treat you better', signs with in the future?