http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2013/01/17/source-mike-napoli-red-sox-reach-agreement/

According to a major league source, the Red Sox and Mike Napoli have reached an agreement on what is believed to be a one-year deal. The two sides had been renegotiating an agreed upon three-year, $39 million contract since concerns arose regarding the free agent first baseman’s hip after a team administered physical. The original deal was agreed upon on Dec. 3.

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I saw last night rumors that the deal would be for less than $13M (the AAV on the initial contract). That must have been one awful physical.

So how does this set up their 2014 catching spot? Don't they have some hot shot catching prospect that will be ready by then?

I wonder what the effect of the 1 year deal is on Salty.

I don't believe they're planning on using Napoli at catcher (much) with Saltalamacchia and David Ross on the roster, and Ryan Lavarnway in the picture as well. I think they view Napoli as their first baseman.

Wow. Did his value ever plummet in one season. Why is he accepting a one year deal in Boston?

It's a strange drop from the 3 year 39M tentative deal they were talking about in November...

That's what puzzles me.

I suppose he wants to establish his value again since he had a relatively down year last year.

But if he's a 1B he's gonna lose a lot of value, and he's getting older.

A 1 year deal seems a gamble on his part. Plenty of offensively starved teams would probably have been willing to give him 2-3 years at 10M plus. I'd think. But maybe not...

Must be health related concerns. And questions about whether he can still catch or not.

And I tell you, that Rangers lineup isn't half as scary as it was in 2011 and 2012. I can't see them making it to the World Series again soon. They might not even make the playoffs this year.

The other side of it is that the market has dried up since the beginning of December when he initially 'agreed' with the Red Sox, and other teams that would have been interested have went in different directions. He had very little leverage.

1 year 5M - crazy.

@JonHeymanCBS - Napoli got $5M for the 1 year. #redsox

HIV, Cancer, Malaria

We'll have to see Lind and Napoli in the battle of the 5M contracts of no defensive value.

1 year at 5mil, ouch. Coming from 3/39. Wonder what is wrong?

What? 5M?

Holy <crap

I actually feel bad for the guy. But he's playing for the Red Sox so I have to hope for a bad year. Sorry Nap. :(

Malaria is a Haiti thing my friend. Watch out for those Mosquitos.

Haiti - Malaria

India - Plague

Trinidad - Roving bands of pirates

Colombia - gun toting cartel members

Places I no want to visit.

lol

Dominican - ransom thugs

I think Naps will benefit greatly in Fenway (the Jason Bay effect). And on a 1 year deal he could get a bit of a pay day come next off season just like Jason Bay.

Is there also much malaria in the DR? It always seemed odd that two countries attached by land had such different levels of warning about it.

Venezuela, No DR