Email a copy of 'Mike Napoli And The Arbitration Process' to a friend
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By Tim Dierkes | at
Email a copy of 'Mike Napoli And The Arbitration Process' to a friend
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bjsguess
Tim – good writeup.
I wonder if playing 1st base this year will hurt or help his valuation in arbitration. Certainly adding a new position as competency SHOULD help. In small sample sizes, Napoli was slightly better than LA according to UZR/150 at 1B (although my eyes tell me something different).
However, if the Angels decide to market him (for arbitration purposes) as primarily a DH/1B I could see that hurting his value. His time this year was nearly 50/50 between catching and 1B.
foxtown
Good points here. I think Carlos Quentin faces a similar situation in Chicago although he is obviously not a catcher. Carlos has large power numbers combined with a low batting average and could get a substantial raise in arbitration if he is tendered.
bigpat
I would love for my team to be “stuck” with Mike Napoli. Such a terrible problem…
venn177
The title sounds like an independent film by some of us baseball nerds about an epic arbitration bout.
Jeff
I could see the O’s having some interest in trading for Napoli. He basically could be the same thing to them that Victor Martinez would be (as was rumored a week or two ago) though wouldn’t cost them a draft pick. Have him play first and DH, then catch whenever Wieters needs a day off. Wouldn’t hate to see it.
bjsguess
He will cost significantly more than a pick if traded. It won’t be a pick but an asset valued more than an early 2nd rounder (which is what Martinez would most likely cost).
Jeff
I understand your point. However, the idea is that giving a known may be better than giving an unknown. For example, we could trade from our pitching depth (e.g. Erbe) as opposed to giving up a pick that could allow us to select say a middle-infielder.
That make sense?
bjsguess
He will cost significantly more than a pick if traded. It won’t be a pick but an asset valued more than an early 2nd rounder (which is what Martinez would most likely cost).
kdub53
I think that keeping napoli would be great for the angels…the thing is that scoscia doesnt like him for some reason or another…
this guy probably could have got to 35 homers this season if played every day…
get rid of mathis…wood…etc…
the “dead wood” offensively…
Marcus
What puts off Angel fans about Mike Napoli, and myself, is that he hit .186 with RISP this year. Those 26 HR’s came in meaningless situations and with no one on base.
Moreover, his catcher’s ERA is extremely higher than Mathis’, Conger’s, or Wilson’s and his defensive skills aren’t anything to write home about.
I think he would flourish well, and would love to see, if he played everyday at the catching position with a more potent offense (i.e. Free Agent bats added). That would take pressure off of him to perform and give him more opprotunities to hit with RISP; which would raise that batting average with RISP and utilize that power in key/clutch situations.
The Napoli issue is only exaggerated because of his hefty price tag and we didn’t make the playoffs.
Amy Taraschi
Ill give Wood another shot. Hes playing in the Arizona Fall League to try to get into form. I see no point in “getting” rid of him. Will he be on a short leash yes, but give the kid a chance. He once had a lot going for him not long ago.