The Indians met with first baseman Mike Napoli’s camp yesterday and tried to hammer out a one-year deal to re-sign the slugger, tweets MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. While Napoli has reportedly had a three-year asking price this winter, Bastian notes that he hears Napoli might’ve already re-signed with Cleveland if the front office had pushed its offer to two years. Bastian goes on to report that Napoli’s camp has met with a “handful” of teams, and they’re optimistic about their ability to land a multi-year deal in free agency.
Napoli is one of multiple first base/DH types that are currently being linked to Cleveland, as the Indians are reportedly in pursuit of lefty-swinging Mitch Moreland and, more surprisingly, Edwin Encarnacion. ESPN’s Buster Olney called those conversations “just polite” last night (Twitter link), suggesting that a deal was likely to be far too expensive for Cleveland’s liking. In this morning’s blog (Insider subscription required/recommended), he further notes that surrendering the requisite first-round pick to sign Encarnacion would be difficult for Cleveland, as would committing to a 34-year-old on a lucrative multi-year deal.
Napoli posted huge power numbers for the Indians this past year, hitting .239/.335/.465 with 34 homers and 22 doubles, but reports have suggested that Cleveland is only interested in a one-year deal for its eventual first base/DH solution.
I think they will re-sign him, but for more than one year.
I agree with Bastian that a 2 year offer for Napoli should wrap him up. He’s a good fit for the Indians, and there’s a lot of mutual interest there, so I hope the Tribe ups its offer.
Depends on the price; can’t overpay based on emotion and end up with a broken down guy that won’t play and a contract they can’t dump.
2 years with an option would be reasonable depending on the price.
Texas
mike is a wonderful guy but he goated on us when we needed him most. Ed-Carn is a much better fit for the win NOW Tribe in my humble opinion….sorry nap I love you but buznizz is biznizz