Christmas is almost here and
one of the biggest, shiniest gifts under the Red Sox tree—Mike Napoli—remains unsigned. Now, as the impasse over Napoli's ailing hip approaches three weeks, it's seriously hampering the team's planning (just 45 days before the equipment truck leaves for Fort Myers). Reports persist that Napoli's hip issues caused both Texas and Seattle to pass on signing the catcher/first baseman/DH. The Red Sox‚ inexplicably, still feel the injury is not that severe and are just looking to reduce the terms of the proposed contract (initially agreed to at the Boston standard of 3 years and $39 million). Our view is the Red Sox should cut Napoli loose and sign
Adam LaRoche—even if they have to lose their second-round pick.
