Veteran slugger Mike Napoli is one of the free agent hitters drawing interest from the Astros, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link). While a left-handed bat would be a better fit within a Houston lineup is heavy with right-handed hitters (even after the acquisitions of Josh Reddick and Brian McCann), Napoli would bring some extra veteran leadership to a young team as well as a significant amount of pop.
First base is an area of uncertainty for the Astros for 2017. Top prospect A.J. Reed is still likely seen as the long-term answer at the position, though Reed didn’t show much in his first taste of the big leagues and perhaps isn’t ready to be a regular for a contending team. Yulieski Gurriel is penciled in as Houston’s top first base option, with Reed, Tyler White, Marwin Gonzalez and McCann in the mix for backup duty.
It’s also still possible that Gurriel ends up as the regular left fielder if the Astros go with George Springer in center and Reddick in right, so adding a player like Napoli would go a long way towards stabilizing the first base situation. Whereas a big-ticket free agent first baseman like Edwin Encarnacion would require a commitment of four or five years, Napoli probably won’t require anything more than a two-year deal, so Reed wouldn’t be blocked for too long.
GM Jeff Luhnow’s statement earlier this month that the Astros were going to look to the free agent market for upgrades has already proven to be true with the signings of Reddick and Charlie Morton, though Houston also swung a big trade to land McCann from the Yankees.
Seattle and Cleveland have both been linked to Napoli this winter, and he has been speculatively connected to several other teams with vacancies at first base or DH. The 35-year-old put himself in line for a nice contract in the wake of his 34-homer, .239/.335/.465 season with the American League champion Indians last season.
RF Aoki
3B Bregman
2B Altuve
SS Correa
CF Springer
LF Reddick
DH Napoli
C McCann/Gattis
1B Gurriel
Thats pretty scary looking.
I really wish the angels would think about bringing back Napoli or Trumbo, they need more thunder in their line up and protection around trout.
What position would either of those guys play with the Angels?
maybe split time at first and dh. trumbo can play left and platoon with maybin.
So two right handed batters platooning?
If they could get one of the two, I prefer trumbo because he can play left field, they have cron for first and dh.
Three, if you include Cron. OP clearly hasn’t thought this through. Plus, Trumbo has no business playing OF at any level higher than beer league.
Yeah three dhs and 1B that doesn’t make much sense unless they traded cron. Which I would rather keep cron
angelsfan4life generally doesnt think any of his comments through i’ve noticed.
I concur Gavin. He comes across as that typical lost Angel fan that wants to bring back every player they lost to FA or traded….
Cron provides a decent portion of Trumbo’s offensive value for $500k salary 2017. I would expect regression from Trumbo on the gaudy HR total, which seemed influenced by Camden Yards. Cron showed better plate discipline in 2016, and if that trend continues he’ll be a better hitter than Trumbo, too.
The Angels organization does not like Napoli, especially Scioscia. This being why he loves to play against the Angels.
Don’t need more dh’s.
Chris Iannetta with homeruns. Not very productive unless you’re desperate for a #6 hitter with pop. The Angels need pitching.
napoli is probably staying in cle
Napoli was a black hole the last 6 weeks or so during the regular season and was an even bigger problem during the playoffs. I may have some recency bias (He played well most the year), but I’m not all that interested in bringing him back if it takes more than 1 year.
He definitely sounds like a fit for a team like Houston who has way more protection surrounding him in that lineup. His positive clubhouse presence is certainly a real thing as well. I wish him luck wherever he ends up.
I’d bat Aoki 9th and move everyone up a spot.
More like::
1. Altuve 2B
2. Bregman 3B
3. Correa SS
4. Napoli 1B
5. Springer CF
6. McCann C
7. Gattis DH
8. Reddick RF
9. Gurriel LF
Subs: Aoki (if contract tendered), Gonzalez, Marisnick
Springer leads off. Altuve third. Bump Correa and Napoli down a spot.
Not a fan of Springer leading off. even though that’s what Hinch had most of the season. Would fit so much better as a clean up man. Plus Altuve gets on base a lot.
Altuve isn’t patient enough to leadoff well. We’ve tried that experiment before.
Who cares how much he walks. I think his OBA is plenty high enough.
Whoa, that lineup is kind of massive. Could get 20+ bombs each from 1-9.
Teoscar will likely be our 6th OF.
I would rather Teoscar start in AAA. He doesn’t have much time there but needs to play everyday.
Aoki leading off? Are you on crack?
Lol Aoki in RF
Springer CF, Reddick RF, Yuli/marisnick/Aoki LF
Aoki could be non tendered candidate since we signed reddick. He may be gone by Spring training even starts. Aoki is more of a 4th OF these days. But I really want to him tare up lefties like he has in the past years. But if they do give him a contract he will be an expensive back up
PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM NAPOLI!!! We don’t need another Gattis in the lineup.,……..One is plenty and McCann is similar.
Get CONSISTANT contact bats and less .220 avg and 100 K bats
Which available 1B fit that profile?
Doesn’t have to be a 1b…..we have plenty of 1b options as it is. Marwin, yuli, or give reed more time depending on his spring training.
Miggy
Evan Gatiis hits .250 bro… Napoli when he’s not slumping can hit .240
Or…
2B Altuve
RF Reddick
SS Correa
CF Springer
1B Napoli
C/DH McCann
DH/C Gattis
3B Gurriel
LF Aoki
Opening Day starter Chris Sale
1.Springer CF
2.Bregman 3B
3.Altuve 2B
4.Correa SS
5.Reddick RF
6.Napolis 1B
7.Gattis DH
8.McCann C
9.Gurriel LF
I think you can substitute Beltran or EE for Napoli, although Beltran is the only one that has extremely limited experience at 1B (one game in 19 seasons).
With a bench of Marisnick, Teoscar H, Marwin G and Aoki, I’d say this will be a fun lineup to watch!
Id like to see Altuve back leading off
Be really scary with Miguel Cabrera in the clean up.
Better to sign-and-trade Aoki, or nontender him?
I would rather we kept Aoki and sent Reed back to AAA for more work.
He plays for the Mariners.
Aoki was picked up off waivers from the Mariners on Nov 3rd.
The Mariners couldn’t find a trade partner. Doubtful that the Astros can. More than half the teams passed on him for Houston to be able to claim him on waivers.
And yet still not as good as my cubbies
2017 Season = No Chapman = No repeat chance. Chapman resigns with the Bombers.
What? That’s just dumb. I’m also not sure what Chapman has to do with whether or not the cubs lineup is better than the one posted above.
please don’t do that.
Aoki is a fourth OF. Marisnick will enter Spring Training as the club’s CF. Springer-Bregman-Altuve are the 1-2-3
I have to wonder, if we fill 1B with Napoli or Encarnacion, where does Gurriel go?
Starting to think there might a slight chance that Bregman could be in play for an ace.
Don’t like that idea, we have more than enough prospects to land a less than elite, but quality 1-2 starter.
Gurriel into LF Probably.. Bregman isn’t going anywhere… And yeah… Fill up a trade with guys like Max Stassi and Teoscar Hernandez you could get a quality starter..