AP source: Napoli, Red Sox agree to shorter deal
Thursday, January 17, 2013
BOSTON (AP) -- A person familiar with the negotiations says the Boston Red Sox and Mike Napoli have agreed to shorten their deal to a one-year contract worth $5 million.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement was not yet final.
Boston and Napoli agreed Dec. 3 during the winter meetings to a $39 million, three-year contract, subject to a successful physical. But the Red Sox became concerned about Napoli's hip, and that agreement was never announced.
Napoli's new deal will allow him to earn an additional $8 million in bonuses, which would bring his 2013 income to $13 million, where it would have been under the original agreement.
The person said language still had to be finalized and Napoli's deal likely will be announced next week.
A 31-year-old catcher and first baseman, Napoli hit .227 with 24 homers and 56 RBIs last year as he became a first-time All-Star. He is a .306 career hitter at Fenway Park, with seven homers and 17 RBIs.
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AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.
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