Red Sox Face First Base Dilemma

It appears as if the Red Sox’ first choice, Mike Napoli, is now their Plan B when it comes to first base. Multiple sources have reported the Red Sox are now pursuing free-agent Adam LaRoche, but how aggressive remains to be told. LaRoche, who would like to return to the Washington Nationals but is holidng out for a third year from GM Mike Rizzo, is stuck in the middle of this mess and currently appears to be holding all the cards. How this all happened is a bit of a mystery, but if you take some time to put all the pieces together, you can come to somewhat of a conclusion. The bottom line, however, is this: The Red Sox are simply trying to save their butts.

Let’s recap:

1. Mike Napoli, Boston’s first choice to play first base next season, arrives in Boston on a Sunday and undergoes a full physical by the Red Sox medical staff on Monday Morning. However, by noon on Tuesday afternoon, sources were speculating Napoli’s physical didn’t go very well and an official press conference was never scheduled or announced. It was obvious something went wrong and the Red Sox once again found themselves in an all too familiar territory. (Think JD Drew and John Lackey)

2. Napoli heads back to Texas without a signed three-year deal from the Red Sox and the speculation surrounding his injury begins. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports was the first to report that Napoli’s hip was the main issue holding up the deal. While that has yet to be confirmed, and it likely never will be, there is no reason to believe or not believe the rumor. Although Napoli was injury-plagued last season, the hip was not (at least that we know of) one of the problems. The Red Sox have been tight-lipped on the results of the physical, as have Napoli’s camp, and neither sides are expected to discuss any medical-related issues going forward, whether he signs or not.

3. Fast forward 24 days… the Red Sox are without a first baseman and the clock is ticking. The holdup could be one of two things: Either the Red Sox are looking at other options, which Ben Cherington and assistant GM Brian O’Halloran have stated many times (O’Halloran as early as Wednesday afternoon), or they are waiting for Napoli’s agent Brian Greiper to accept a deal for less money and/or less years.

“I can’t comment on that (Napoli) specifically, nothing new from what Ben said the last time he spoke with you guys,” O’Halloran told reporters this week. “We do continue to talk to a number of free agents ongoing, as Ben alluded to previously.”

4. In the meantime, free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche is sitting pretty in Washington waiting for Rizzo to add a third year to the two-year offer already on the table. Sources tell me that LaRoche believes he deserves a third year after seeing Cody Ross and Nick Swisher receive three and four, respectively. LaRoche, however, had made it no secret to sources that he would like to stay in DC with the Nats. Sources tell me the third year is the absolute deciding factor. So if the Red Sox were to swoop in and offer LaRoche a three-year deal, a source close to the situation says he would “take it in a heartbeat.” But would the Red Sox be willing to do that, and if so, would Rizzo then counter-offer the Sox and give LaRoche what he wants? If that were to happen, I assume LaRoche would stay in DC and leave the Sox three-year offer on the table.

So here we stand, Boston. Those are the facts. What we make of them is a completely different story.

Let’s sort this out:

1. What is the holdup with Napoli? While some have speculated Greiper is holding out for better deal from Boston, I find this VERY hard to believe. If Napoli had a poor physical in Boston, I’m willing to bet he will have a similar experience in another city. And chances are that city will not be willing to offer Napoli more than Boston. So in my opinion, the Red Sox are the ones holding up the Napoli deal. Can we blame them or are they being unfair and stubborn?

Lets not forget, this is the guy they wanted, Mike Napoli. This is the guy they coveted, Mike Napoli. This is the guy that has some of the best offensive numbers in any visiting ballpark, Mike Napoli. The question is, what is the severity of the mystery injury and is it severe enough for the ball club to push aside everything they loved about their beloved free-agent slugger, Mike Napoli?

2. Another scenario… Do the Red Sox feel duped? There’s a chance that after weeks of negotiating a third year with Napoli’s camp — remember, he was seeking four and he was already negotiationg with both Seattle, Texas and Cleveland — the Red Sox are unhappy (to say the least) with the results of Napoli’s physical (obviously) and may feel the entire process was a waste of their time. After all, again, this was THE guy they wanted.

If this is the case, the only option they have at this point is to pursue LaRoche and see if they can pry him away from Washington. With Rizzo staying put at two years, it may not be that difficult. The only thing that will get LaRoche out of DC, however, is a three-year deal. Again, are the Red Sox willing to go to three years with LaRoche? Personally, I don’t think so.

Why?

3. Here’s the catch. If Cherington were to sign LaRoche to a three-year deal, he would lose his second-round draft pick. If he signs Napoli to two years, he would keep his draft picks in tact but would potentially obtain a damaged player. Potentially. Again, we do not know the exact results of Napoli’s physical. And to re-itterate, if LaRoche was faced with a three-year deal from both DC and Boston, he would stay in DC.

4. And last… there is also the possibility that LaRoche’s camp (and others) are leaking the Red Sox’ interest in order to push Rizzo to that all-important third year. If that’s the case, and given the free-agents left in the pool and that fact that Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson don’t want to go into spring training with Michael Morse as their first baseman, there’s a good chance Rizzo would cave and give LaRoche that third year.

In turn, the Sox would be left with Napoli or nothing, which in my opinion, isn’t a bad scenario. After all, Mike Napoli IS the guy they wanted.