Free agent first baseman Mike Napoli wants to "shop around" after the Boston Red Sox offered him a multi-year deal, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.
Mike Napoli wants to explore free agent market
Boston has offered the first-baseman a multi-year contract, but he reportedly wants to look for other deals.
Ronald Martinez
Napoli has indicated that he would like to return to Boston; Jen Royle of the Boston Herald asked Napoli if he wanted to return next season, and the first baseman responded with “Oh yeah.. I hope so.”
His return, however, is "far from a certainty", according to Passan. Other teams have expressed interest in signing the slugger, including the Baltimore Orioles and maybe the Seattle Mariners, who have been reported to have and not have interest in Napoli already this offseason.
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The 32-year-old is coming off a strong 2013 season, batting .259/.360/.482 with 23 home runs and 92 RBI. He also appeared in 139 games, alleviating some concerns about his degenerative hip condition.
The Mariners and Orioles both have a need for a right-handed power bat. Seattle could use a new first baseman if Kendrys Morales leaves in free agency, while Baltimore needs to upgrade their designated hitter; the club tried out 16 players in the spot during 2013.
Boston has some flexibility if Napoli decides to leave. Daniel Nava could shift to full-time first base, with rumored target Carlos Beltran a possibility to replace Nava in left.
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