The catching market has changed substantially over the last several months. Yadier Molina paved the way with his five-year, $75MM contract, and yesterday Miguel Montero reaped the rewards. He agreed to a five-year, $60MM extension with the Diamondbacks, leaving Mike Napoli as the top catcher on the free agent market after the season.
Napoli, 30, is said to be seeking a deal somewhere between Victor Martinez’s (four years, $52MM) and Molina’s. He’s hitting just .233/.325/.436 in 154 plate appearances this season following last year’s breakout .320/.414/.631 campaign. Furthermore, Napoli has only started behind the plate in 25 of his team’s first 46 games.
Quality catching is very hard to find, which is why Molina and now Montero have cashed in so handsomely. Napoli is next in line for a huge contract despite his slow start to the season.
Not buying into “last seasons hype / stats” let’s talk contract after the season. He’s not going to have the same season as last. He’s a 262 hitter & the sky is falling.
he has a career ops well over 800 but keeping thinking it was good yr.
He has a career OPS of .865, last year he had an OPS of 1.046. I think there’s enough of a difference there to say it was a good year.
I think playing full time, not always getting good matchups exposes him a little bit, but he’s gonna catch fire sometime during summer and end up with a good line this year. One team will overpay for him.
Na-Po-Li Na-Po-Li !!!!
Where’s Joe Mauer’s contract?
A catcher is never getting that kind of money anytime soon.
Joe Mauer will probably be moving out of the catcher’s role very soon…and the reason why he got that big a deal is because he means so much to not just the franchise, but to the city (Mauer was born and grew up in the Twin Cities).
that guy is probably the most overrated ballplayer these last 2 seasons..
If he wasn’t from the Twin Cities, I doubt that he would get anywhere near what he is getting.
hes batting at the same pace as JPA for the Blue Jays this year.
JPA is getting a huge contract once he’s out of his ARB years
Sadly, probably not with the Blue Jays
no Im ok with the Jays not paying him. More than happy.
I’m not!
Dude has an OPS+ of 90 this year (same as last year)… he’s going to need to improve a ton to garner said huge contract. When he hits free agency as a 31 year old catcher with his skilset, he’s probably looking at John Buck type money. Truth be told, there’s probably a better chance he washes out before he even gets to that point.
i see another 1 year contract in his future
Looking at these numbers… I’m dreading when JP Arencibia is on his first FA year… *shudder*
Assuming he keeps up the production/doesn’t get traded.
I think that Mike Napoli will be in for some big sticker shock. I can’t see him getting 8 figures with any team.
he looks like Jon Benjamin only more muscular