Now that makes sense untill Napoli can prove he can stay relatively healthy. He should be a good fit here, giving the Sox flexibility as a 3rd catcher should they want to PH in that area. He is a far better catcher defensively than some people think and do well at first the more there he plays there.

NA – PO – LEEE!!!  Start printing the playoff tickets!

Great news now we have a lock on 4th place in the AL East.   All we need now is a left fielder, a catcher, a shortstop not named Drew, and 2 starters.

what a waist of money on a useless player  ,  well  red sox owner don’t love baseball…..

Let’s hope this risky move pays off…I”m not confident with any move by BC..so we shall see.
The real question is to what extent is Napoli damaged goods….buying an old banana that used to
be good really does not accomplish much.

This is not a world series contender.  This is not a playoff contender.  Right now, in a 7 game series, I think Pawtucket wins.

i like it finally we got our guy and its only for a year, has a good season, resign him up  but injuries, see ya later, but glad to have a first baseman!

Stephen Drew looked to finally be getting over his setback late last season. If he can be adequate with the glove and viable with the bat, he’ll be fine. Before that ankle injury, he only went on the DL once or twice. He’s not JD (who really wasn’t all that bad though we paid him a little too much).

They’ll probably bring in a left-handed hitter to platoon at LF and 1B (Johnny Damon anyone?) and maybe sign a veteran pitcher to a minor league deal before spring training. Starting pitching-wise we’ll likely see some guys turn out from the farm system this year. We had a nice streak of that for a few seasons: Lester in 06, Buchholz in 07, Masterson in 08, Bard in 09. I don’t include Doubront on the list because he only made a couple of cameos in 2010 and 2011 whereas the other guys had a little more staying power. Looks like he’s here to stay now though.

We could see some or all of Rubby De La Rosa, Steven Wright, Allen Webster, and Chris Hernandez this season. Matt Barnes and Anthony Ranaudo could make strides as well.

“Breaking News” This is been breaking for 2 month`s now….. Ben`s circus act continues! 

That bridge is almost ready for the light seasonal traffic.

move to R.I.

move to R.I.

That is very good news hitting around Papi he should get 35 homers. Team is looking very good.

 Whoa put on those brakes there Richard- don’t go counting their eggs before they hatch. True to the fact that I am elated they were FINALLY able to come to an agreement. This drama certainly has dragged on long enough. Giving him 1-year deal is a win-win for both parties. It gives Boston hopefully the Napoli from a year ago with his prolific #s and it gives Nap the incentive to put up big #s in the limelight he will be facing free agency.

Now regarding your other points….left fielder, catcher, shortstop?

I believe the signing of Gomes (for 2years) may have been an oversight. I think they could’ve gone out and gotten a much better player but we faithful fan can only hope he pans out. I think the signing on David Ross was a joke- they signed a BACK UP catcher that more or less will be listed still as a BACK UP. I think they need to trade Lav (don’t even know how to spell the kids name lol) so that should tell you his importance. They need to send “Lav” back to Paw. I think “Salty” deserves the chance to be named the starter catcher. I hope last year’s offensive outburst is a glimpse of more to come. I hope during spring training he works on his mechanics behind the plate and shores up his arm. Again its a ‘wait-and-see’ type of scenario.

Shortstop- I wish everyone will get off this “Drew bad blood” crap. It is unfair to make Stephen the black-sheep, elephant in the closet, brand him with a Scarlet letter, etc. Geez this kid does have some potential so PLEASE every cut him some slack.

That is my 2cents! 

Sounds like an ARod situation.He won’t get better /healthier going forward.Bad move,even if he survives one season.

finally, now i can book my flight/hotel to the WS

Nice to see that young Ben has taken over the trainwreck mantel from Bobby V.  He offered $39 mil to a guy who’s hip is made of particle board?  Keen baseball instincts, Ben.
This is gonna be another fun year.  I called the train wreck last January and was right.  I think you have another one coming.  Don’t shoot the messenger.  Especially when he’s usually right.

 How’s Arod doing douch e? Nice contract and sure trumps the one year 5 million Napoli is getting. BTW good luck with Youk….

You really think your Yankees are going somewhere? Let’s see if they can win a game in ALCS this year…. if they get that far

At least now it’s only 1yr, 5 mil as apposed to 39 million

1B – Napoli

2B – Pedroia

SS -  Drew

3B -  Middlebrooks

LF – Gomes/Kalish

CF – Ellsbury

RF – Victorino

C – Salty, Ross, possibly Lavarnway barring a trade

DH – Ortiz

lineup:

1. Ellsbury

2. Pedroia

3. Ortiz

4. Napoli

5. Middlebrooks

6. Victorino

7. Gomes/Kalish

8. Drew

9. the catcher

How is it a bad move even if he survives one season? It’s a one year deal. 

I dont know if he is sexy enough guys!!

Your such a loser! You have never been right on anything until after it happened. “I told  you, I told You”. You sound like a 5 year old.

Morse is sexier.  But Salty and Ellsbury are the sexiest on the Red Sox.

 All this for just one year? 

 One year, 5 million. VERY RISKY.

Shut up, moron.

It is interesting that this deal suddenly got”wrapped up” when Michael Morse headed to Seattle. Ah well we needed Napoli, but this transaction sure dragged out beyond anyones point of interest. It sure is a strange foreshadowing to what this upcoming year might look like.

This is an *excellent* deal for the Red Sox: low risk, high-potential payoff, and maybe another draft pick to boot.

 u must be hallucinating

 troll

 Okay, so does this mean Bennyman is all done for the time being.  What we now see is what we’re stuck with, I mean, what we see?

Naps is a platoon player at best – he can’t hit RH pitching and will need a defensive replacement late in the game…..Salty is a sub-par defensive catcher who strikes out more than Varitek did (and that was a ton), Lavarnway should be dealt but he killed the Sox chances of getting anything decent in return with a woeful AUG-SEP last year……their best catcher will be Ross for 130 games or so, after that it will be a crap-shoot…Gomes is a joke and the Drew family must have pictures of Lucchino with farm animals to keep extorting the millions they’ve gotten from the Sox the past 6 yrs…….anyone who thinks Cherington is making his own decisions is in line for prime swampland in FL…….can you say 4th place??????

If your claiming to be telling it like it is DO IT! Ben offered the 3yr 39 mil UNTILL the hip injury was discovered, then took it away to a more reasonable agreement. Always being negative is NOT telling it like it is. 

Keep throwing that spgahetti against the wall Nostradamus and it eventually it sticks…what a hoot you are…you have the plums the size of cantalopes to come here and criticise OUR GM? Are you kidding? Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t be throwing stones. Isn’t “your guy” the GM who signed Arod? How’s that working out? How’s that catcher coming along? The only guys older than Andy Pettite are dead guys…lets’ not forget that corpse at 1st base…how many more muscles and ligaments are left for him to pull/tear? And pullease…when Kevin Youkulis is a better option than the highest paid player in MLB, you’ve got problems. Can’t wait for the memorial unveiling in CF for Youk!!! Wait, I forgot…the Yanks signed Ichiro…that seals the deal….

Whew. Now I can take the wife to 50 games this year at Fenway and spend about $9000 – $10000 without a guilty conscience. This changes everything. Let the good times roll again.

Spygate is SUCH a tool….beyond tool status actually….I bet he’s the life of every party

My god.  You people are the worst.

I find totally hilarious that they (the Sox) are able to get Napoli for a 1 year deal and people still complain.  Worst fans ever.

I like this turn of events.  Everything else aside, REALLY gives Napoli serious incentive to have a real monster season.  But I want to address a couple of your points.

I think Gomes will really rake at Fenway.  But I think he will be challenged by Kalish…who will probably be a late inning defensive replacement quite often.  And why does everyone always overlook Daniel Nava?  Personally…I’d have him working at first base as a backup as well as reserve outfielder.

I totally disagree with your take on David Ross.  He’s a very decent hitter for a good defensive guy. The pitchers he threw to thought very highly of him.  Not that I put a particular premium on throwing out runners, he had a 40% ratio…far better than anyone the Sox have had in some time.  He should be a fine mentor for either Salty or Lavarnway (really easy to spell…just like it sounds :)).  I really don’t think another year at AAA will hurt him a bit.  That’s IF no one is traded.

Makes you wonder why ALL contracts don’t include a clause like this….Bet the MFYs wish ARod had one!

What a downgrade at 1st base  in Napoli   , i rather have  Ortiz  lol    Soxs will be good for 4th or last…….    Owner  don’t love baseball….

Most Red Sox fans in general and over 90% of the commenters here are uninformed and ignorant about baseball.  Boston is no longer a baseball town, the people are too dumb.

Hello! Folks would complain if Napoli PAID the Sox to play in Boston…

 What’s the chances of him being a happy camper? 

Michael Morse deal + tickets on sale Saturday = Napoli deal done.

People are starting to smarten up about what’s going on.

Hey dummy,  that has got to be the most ignorant statement I have ever heard!!

Only one year………..they’re learning.

Stay off the disabled list only. $8 million richer. Resign for $26 million for 2 years. Stay off the disabled list Mike.

And you’re still one year younger than Pujols.

Haha.  You can thank the players union for all that crap.  You can also thank the union that Arod is not a Red Sox.  Praise the Lord.  Imagine being stuck with that load.

makes me think he really wanted to play in boston if he went from 39 mil to 5 mil with a chance to get 13.  I would have figured he’d at least get 13 mil guaranteed for one year.  Either other teams weren’t going to give him a better deal or he really believes fenway will help him put up big numbers.  Maybe he loves the atmosphere too.  I like this deal because it makes me think Napoli is really confident because I’m sure he could have gotten more money for one year somewhere else regardless of possible injuries in the future.  With the character guys they have brought in, I actually like what the sox have done except for the Victorino move as we all know they spent way too much.  Even when taking D into account, Cody Ross would have been a better choice than Victorino even if we had to pay him 39 mil.  However, the fact that we prob could have had Ross for 3 years 25 mil or at the most 30 mil, makes the decision even more head scratching.  The better player could have been signed for much less, but maybe there is something Ben sees in Victorino or information that would make him believe he can return to being an all star.  I just think Cody could have done even better if the sox weren’t the laughing stock of baseball and that could be why he was tearing it up the 1st half, but then the “toxic” clubhouse(and losing) started to take its toll.  Ross seems to enjoy the spot light and on good teams I think he can really produce….oh well.

Gomes is a lefty-hitting specialist. He’s never hit RHP well, which considering a RHP is on the mound about 75% of the time is a concern. But I’m not here to argue, I’m agreeing with you about Kalish, somewhat. I think the Sox front office seems so little concerned that they have a weak-D, weak against RHP hitting guy at the top of the LF depth chart because they believe a now healthy Kalish will come into his own. The starting job is Kalish’s to take if he plays well. Then Gomes can go back to what he does best, being a 4th outfielder who kills LHP and keeps the rest of the team loose and having fun. If Gomes is the regular LF, then this off-season has been a failure.

This is the right deal…Low guarantee and happy to payoff if he “HITS” his incentives…I wish more contracts were structured as such…Hoping Sox can turn it around with mix of vets and top prospects like Bradley & Bogart.

I love the move.. 5 mill in guarantees.. Finally a guy thats going to have to play to get paid.. If he stays healthy and rakes he gets 13.  Well worth the risk.

my guess  why is either Napoli really wanted to be here….OR the Sox weren’t the only ones concerned about his hip.  I think he knew Fenway offered his best chance to rake.

Agreed. 90% of the commenters are negative and ingnorant and do not offer any words that show they can string a thought together. The 10% that offer interesting thoughts on the team are appreciated reading. The rest of you 90 percenters have oatmeal for brains, and are dumber than a bag of hammers.

I think you might be missing the point of the naysayers….the point is why bring on guys that
are likely to be out of the lineup or injured for a lot of the season?  Like Bailey of last season?
Its not really building towards anything except another last place finish.

Once a DINK always a DINK…I remember you waving the pink
flag all last season….

Well, you can catch him on WEEI on the weekends.

Pryor didn’t quite pan out, which is too bad. The team can always use good depth at that position.

As for Pete, he would have had some great commentary this weekend. But, I think Pete quit last weekend, if I am not mistaken, on air.

Tampa ownership is smokin’ the crack. They gave up way to much. Randy Moss was only worth a 5th rounder or 7th, not sure, and he was healthy. No wonder they can”t fill the seats in TB.

Patriot Predictions 92.0 Other 3rd round pick Khaseem Greene LB Rutgers.