If the Indians have it their way, there will be more parties at Napoli’s in Cleveland next season. General manager Mike Chernoff indicated before the team’s Game 7 World Series loss to the Cubs on Wednesday that the Indians would like to retain impending free agent first baseman/designated hitter Mike Napoli.
“We have a desire to have him here, and my sense is that he has a desire to be here,” Chernoff told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.“That’s something we’ll have to address once the World Series is over.”
With the season now in the books, the Indians have a five-day window to exclusively negotiate with Napoli, who will become eligible to sign someplace else Nov. 8 if he and the Indians don’t reach a deal by then. Reeling in Napoli won’t be as easy as it was for Cleveland last offseason, when it inked him to a one-year, $7MM contract in January. Napoli was coming off one of the worst seasons of his career then, having hit a below-average .224/.324/.410 with 18 home runs in 469 plate appearances divided between Boston and Texas. The 35-year-old slugger rebounded during the regular season for the American League Central-winning Indians, with whom he slashed .239/.335/.465 with 34 homers in 645 PAs and became a fan favorite and important clubhouse presence. Napoli then collected just nine hits and a single HR in 51 postseason trips to the plate for the AL pennant winners, but that small sample of poor production shouldn’t have much of an effect on his stock.
In the event Cleveland and Napoli aren’t able to reach a new agreement in the coming days, the team will have the right to issue him a qualifying offer by the Nov. 7 deadline, though that could be an agonizing decision. If Napoli accepts, it would force the Indians to allocate a lofty chunk of payroll ($17.2MM) to him in 2017. Although Napoli was a key member of the Indians’ lineup and clubhouse this year, his limitations as a defender and baserunner significantly weaken his value. Not receiving a QO could work out better for Napoli, who would hit the open market without draft pick compensation scaring away potential suitors.
Is he really that “limited” of a defender? Just a question not trying to start a flame war
I mean he’s not GG worthy but he’s a capable first baseman, look up his fielding stats on baseball reference for confirmation
He hit .166, .188 and .200 in the three post season series. Why are they so interested in bringing him back? He was easily overmatched by good pitching.
veteran leadership
Because they need power and cannot afford any of the other bats on the market.
The correct baseball decision is to let him walk in favor of Encarnacion; but with Paul Dolan holding the purse strings they are stuck between the proverbial rock hard place
If you followed the Indians during the regular then you would know why the team wants him back.
The fact he hit 34 homers 101 RBI and played in 150 games. Without him they likely don’t win the division.
Because playoffs are a small sample size?
He’s a vet. He provide that clubhouse with a great presence. And he’s protection for Brantley. You could easily slide him down to 5 or 6 hole and that lineup is a lot better.
Because batting average is not the only measure of a player’s value to a team. Because the postseason as a whole is an incredibly small sample compared to a 162 game season. Because the pitchers you face in the postseason are some of the very best in the game, typically resulting in worse-than-average performance.
How did they come up with the QO period ending on the 7th? Didn’t the World Series end on the 3rd? Or do they go from when the start of the final game is?
Dudes a winner. That can’t b measured by 3 series worth of bad batting average. U can throw out stats. But coaches and gms love this dude
I know Dolan is cheap, but I think Bautista would be a perfect fit to replace Napoli. He can play in the outfield (a big need for Cleveland) as well as 1B.
Bautista has played a grand total of 3 Innings at 1B the past 2 seasons.
So, you are agreeing that he can play 1B. Guess Toronto didn’t have that much need to play him at 1B with Encarnacion and Smoak on the team..
This is like saying he agrees with you that Alex Rodriguez “can” play 3rd base because he played 3rd base for one at bat last season.
And he played 97 innings in 2014. I am not going to argue that he would be the best 1b in the game but Napoli is one of the worst and he should be easy to replace defensively. Plus, they could split Bautista’s playing time between LF/RF/DH/1B and use Santana at 1B as well.
At the end of the day, if Brantley comes back healthy, they could have a terrific line-up with JB in the middle of the order. Even though his best years are behind him, I still think he will bounce back next year, wherever he signs.
Despite the above, I would be shocked if Cleveland is interested because of his reputation and the salary he will likely claim.
Napoli isn’t going to win a gold glove at 1B, but he’s not going to severely hurt you. He’s not even a full-time 1B, rotating between Santana and Nap at 1B/DH worked great, why change it? Bautista on the other hand, has a TOTAL of 154 innings at first in his career and he’s looked downright awful, and that was before he had back problems. Saying Bautista is a viable option at 1B is like saying the Red Sox should move Hanley back to left field.
Bautista is a DH, plain and simple. He might actually be the worst overall fielder in baseball.
Matt Kemp raises hand
Kemp is the only reason I didn’t give him the title hands down.
In what world does Mike Napoli receive a qualifying offer? I don’t even understand how that idea was brought up in the first place.
Napoli would sign a QO before the toner was dry
Exactly. I wouldn’t give him 17 for 2 years.
As good as Francona managed the Series, he never should have left Napoli in the cleanup spot as long as he did. As much as he strikes out, he is a 6 or 7 hitter at best.
I wasn’t impressed by how either of the teams were managed during the series. Replacing the starter by the 5th inning simply taxes your bullpen. We saw the results of that in game 7, with tired relievers not being effective. Having a strong bullpen only has value if you keep them performing strong. Using Miller in the 5th inning was overkill. Having your 25th player ending game 7 because you ran out of bench players, is not what I call good managing.
Martinez wouldn’t be on my playoff roster in AAA yet alone taking the final out in extras or game #7. He’s got to be the worst position player in MLB.
No way in hell they offer a QO. He collapsed since sept 1. I bring him back for 8 for one year or bye bye. He’s not getting any younger.
who is?
.224/.324/.410 —-then—- .239/.335/.465— qualifies as a rebound?? I just sat through 52 AB’s this post season with 26 SO’s. Please tell me there is something more we can get for 10mil on the market. BTW we already have to make a decision on another guy who is the same player almost in Carlos Santana. Although his OBP is higher at least, but he has never hit 34 HR’s prior to this contract year.
They already announced they’re picking up Santana’s $12 mil option for 2017.