MLB: Red Sox, Napoli agree to deal

By: Greg Isaac

The Boston Red Sox and free agent catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli have agreed to a three-year deal worth $39 million.

Napoli, 31, has been a pretty hot commodity in a somewhat weak free agent market. While Napoli had an off year in 2012 with a batting line of .227/.343/.469, in 2011 he hit .320/.414/.631 with 30 home runs. Napoli’s former team, the Texas Rangers, did not extend a qualifying offer to him, so they will not be receiving a draft pick as compensation.

The Red Sox plan to use Napoli at first base, with occasional catching duties.

Expect the free agent market, as well as trade talks to begin really heating up over the next few days at the Winter Meetings.

Greg Isaac

Greg Isaac is a former hockey player and coach as well an avid/die-hard hockey fan, having gone to his first game at the Great Western Forum when he was 3. Greg enjoys Seth Rogen and Jason Segel movies with Knocked Up, Superbad and Forgetting Sarah Marshall being 3 of his many favorites. He’s a huge Bill Maher and Seth MacFarlane fan, with his favorite T.V. show being Family Guy, of course. On the weekends you’ll probably find him playing non-stop ball hockey with his 5-year-old son Masen. You can hear Greg Saturday afternoons on @real_hockeytalk & @breakthrsports from 1-4 Arizona time on
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