people who say nap is a one season wonder don't appreciate how much of a better hitter he was than an average catcher....he still had over an 800 ops during his "down" year last year. He may not be an MVP caliber player but he definitely is one of the best hitting catchers (likely with the most power) currently.

For everyone saying that they are glad the rangers didn't match don't read any articles about it, you'll be disappointed. Not only did the Rangers match, but reportedly offered more than Boston. Napoli, apparently said he took the lesser contract, not because more ab's because if he signed with Texas he would be in te lineup everyday, but because of a more defined role. Apparently he doesn't want to be used in three different roles likely to be different everyday. Which is understandable that he wants to know what he's going to be doing everyday. It's easier on the mind, plus not having to worry about catching with his injury history is probably comforting to him as well.

Jim Duquette tweeted "According to ppl close to Napoli, Texas did NOT jump in on negotiations or offer more $$$ than Boston"

Also, for everyone saying they wouldn't pay 13 mil for Napoli based in last year, neither would Red Sox, and that's why they are giving him 5 mil as a base, and will pay 13 if he is like 2011, and if you wouldn't go 13 for that then you're an idiot. Everyone makes it seem like he is getting 13, but my guess is that if he can't pass a physical he won't be healthy enough all year to qualify for it. Why does everyone assume he will max his contract to 13, but if he does then it wasn't a waste because that means he did what you wanted him to. In other words it wasn't a bad idea to sign him for 13 mil.

@tommypickles "Napoli and his former team, the Rangers, had reopened talks, and Texas even offered more money than the Red Sox, a source told ESPNDallas.com, but he chose Boston because he'd get a more clearly defined role with more at-bats. With Texas, Napoli would have shared playing time at catcher (A.J. Pierzynski), first base (Mitch Moreland) and designated hitter (Lance Berkman). "

@colt

Yes, I read that article. Duquettes tweet came 55 minutes ago, so that excerpt you posted is outdated and inaccurate.

We've already got one degenerative hip on the team....we don't need two.

Seems to be a good pass. Would have been nice to get a draft pick for him though. I wonder how much the Rangers knew/suspected about his condition.

Well if the tweet is right then I'm glad. Never wanted Napoli back. He was a half season wonder, but the Red Sox definitely got a good deal. Low risk and high reward, especially with his (limited) history there.

YP hits the nail on the head.

Catcher is one position you'll likely find WAR/ offensive production at an absolute premium. If you pay 4m/WAR for a 1B, you may pay 5-5.5m/ WAR for a catcher. Basically, Napoli could produce 2.5 WAR for Boston and create surplus.

It's unfathomable that the Rangers didn't seize the opportunity to sign napoli to a similar deal and get a ton of surplusage.

@Nomp, The fact is,if we could have declined giving him the QO, then negotiated a deal like this, that'd have been great. However, once we passed that, he agreed to way more money with his 3/$39 deal, Texas moved on by signing AJP and Berkman, and by the time conversations could re-open with Napoli, we didn't have a good fit for him anymore. If we had known then what we know now, yeah, we would have done that deal 100 times over, but we had already moved on and backtracking to match the Boston deal now just doesn't work. Yeah it sucks, but the Rangers are in a different place than they were in December when Napoli originally departed and left a gapping hole.

According to sources close to Napoli that I am close with, the Rangers did in fact offer Nap much more than Boston. Now Duquett's tweet is now outdated and inaccurate. No, I don't have to prove that I know anything at all, just like Duquette.

Poor Nap. Forced to play for only 5 million. We oughtta start a collection plate. You know, his kids have to eat.

Peace

I think Nap made the right choice. He's not a part time player. He runs very hot to very cold at the plate. This type of player needs consistent playing time and a defined role to excel. Elsewise, he won't find his groove. Besides, hip injuries for a big man like Napoli can be devastating. Good luck, Nap.

Peace

Colt your statement: "Also, for everyone saying they wouldn't pay 13 mil for Napoli based in last year, neither would Red Sox, and that's why they are giving him 5 mil as a base, and will pay 13 if he is like 2011, and if you wouldn't go 13 for that then you're an idiot."

isn't really right... The red sox not only agreed to pay him 13 million, but agreed to pay him 39 million over 3 years.. now, maybe they weren't basing that off of last year's production, but two year's ago. They aren't paying him $5 million because of last year's production, they are paying him $5 million (as a base) because they are worried about his hip.

If they weren't worried about his hip, they were ready to pay him $39 million over 3 years in the hope that they would get 2011 type production out of him and not something else....

Still dreaming of a lineup with a red hot Napoli and a red hot Cruz... someone wake me up.

Napoli's "Hit Tool" and "Power Tool" remind me a lot of Joey Gallo.

You guys wanna dump the B-52 and give up on bombers?

I like Napoli in the batters box but much prefer AJP and Soto behind the plate. I still believe Naps got hosed. Hard to imagine his hip problems were not adequately described in his medical records.

@Marktown: is that you, Ricky in Ft. Worth?

I'm questioning the "surplus value" that everyone thinks Boston is sure to get with Napoli.

1 It's predicated on the notion that he's a catcher. Yet Boston's plan was to give him very limited play at catcher.
2 It assumes that the incentives that increase his pay from $5M to $13M are performance based. But considering the issue on the table between the parties, it makes more sense that they are based on PAs or Gs, not OPS or the like.

So let's have Nap primarily playing 1B, and he plays enough games to trigger a $13M salary and puts up his normal non-2011 stat line. In that context, does he offer surplus value? Or not?

If Napoli stays healthy, he will put up surplus value even at 1b. His power and on base skills are very good. I'd predict he could put up mid tier 1b numbers with upside.

@MM I agree that te first offer the Red Sox made for 3 years and 13.3 was ludicrous, an in fact I'm on record as saying that. However, Napoli has hit 20 home runs in each if the last 5 seasons, and continues to get on base whether his avg is high or not. This isn't the contract you are talking about. He is guaranteed only 5 million and only year no matter what. However much he makes after the 5 million is up to him. You obviously don't understand the difference between guaranteed and incentive.

I can understand why he went somewhere else. He wanted a defined role and a full time job. We were going to be offering some 1b, some DH, and probably some catcher time. I really guess that hip is horrible.

Boston first had, thanks to LAD, loads of salary room, and could go on a shopping spree, so they went after a first baseman, who could also back up behind the plate, that would produce 25+hr with 70+rbi, and hopefully higher with half is games at Fenway, but knowing he is basically a .260/.350/.500 bat. So to produce those numbers, Nap was penciled in for 400-500 at bats. Feeling with the bad hip, Nap's at bats would be severely curtailed, the Red Sox wanted a greater guarantee. So Ansel when you posted that it was based on at bats, that is essentially correct. Recall that Napoli was already ay $9.4 m in 2012, was not going back to almost 1/2 his last year's salary. The $5m is more representative of a Brandon Webb 2011 type deal, and with Napoli that is simply not the case. If Napoli has his typical year, aside for a second half 2011 incredibly extended hot streak and a 2008 spike in power, has been as consistent since 2006 as any, then he earns close to the $13. If that is the case then the Red Sox does what the Rangers did not, and this is give a $13.5 qualifying offer. This primarily because Napoli is already for 2013 at that level, produced on a level that Boston felt he could going into the 3/$39 deal, and thus in reality turns into a 2 year deal. Or the Red Sox gains a draft choice for 2014. So the deal really becomes a 2/$26 [ a reasonable compromise from the original deal ], UNLESS Napoli pulls a Brandon Webb, and basically earns $5 m for being a highly paid spectator / fan,

"It assumes that the incentives that increase his pay from $5M to $13M are performance based. But considering the issue on the table between the parties, it makes more sense that they are based on PAs or Gs, not OPS or the like."

Good guess. According to Newberg today, Napoli's incentives are based on plate appearances and not on production. If he's healthy, where he can play enough, he'll get the full $13 million.

^ thanks David. Which brings us full circle to December, where JD and co passed on offering $13mil for 1. All's good.