Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli would like to play as a defending world champion next season, according to WEEI.
Mike Napoli wants return to Boston Red Sox
The slugging first baseman would like to come back and give it another go with the world champs.
Winslow Townson
Napoli, who signed with Boston in the offseason for a one-year, $13 million contract, would like to return to the team after having a very productive season. The former Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers star played a key role in getting Boston to its first World Series since 2007.
Napoli hit 23 home runs and knocked in 92 runs while hitting .259 for Boston, but his productive dropped off in the postseason. Playing in constant pain with a avascular necrosis condition in his hips, Napoli only hit .217 and belted a pair of homers in October. Per WEEI:
“I wanted to do anything I could to try and stay on the field,” he said. “This training staff has done such a great job with me. I was in there every day, working with me. They kept me on the field.”
The slugger, turned 32 years old on Halloween, will now go into a second consecutive offseason looking for work. It bears watching what other teams will offer Napoli, with the presumed advantage being to American League clubs who can work him in as a designated hitter, helping to ease the wear and tear on his hips.
Of course, Napoli will not be seeing any time as a DH with the Red Sox unless David Ortiz goes down, further complicating the matter.
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