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| AP Photo |
Despite earlier reports that
Mike Napoli wants to
mostly catch next year,
the Red Sox are apparently doing their due diligence on the 31-year old anyway. With three catchers currently on the roster (Salty, Lavarnway and newly-signed
David Ross),
another catcher seems a little superfluous. Even if Boston trades one of the current three backstops, that still leaves Napoli as
primarily a first baseman (with perhaps a little bit of DH'ing thrown in). How does this move make sense? Napoli does have Fenway-friendly right-handed power and is a disciplined hitter, but he turned in a less than overwhelming .227/.343/.863 line last year. He was hurt some, but how does that make a 31-year old more attractive? And, his defense at first is marginal at best. Very curious!
