Mike Napoli goes to the Red Sox / (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Reporting Matt Loede
NASHVILLE (92.3 The Fan) – The MLB Winter Meetings is underway and in full swing, and the first shot of the meetings has been officially fired.
The Boston Red Sox, who had an awful year that ended with the firing of manager Bobby Valentine, scored the first big free agent, inking a deal for three years with Mike Napoli. Reports say the deal is for $39 million, and the team paid him more than giving him a fourth season.
Last season in Texas, the 31-year-old Napoli hit just .227, but still slammed 24 homers and 56 RBI. Reports say the Red Sox plan on playing him at first, but will give him time behind the plate during the season and in spring training.
The Rangers won’t get a compensation pick for Napoli since the team decided not to make him a qualifying offer at season’s end.
