According to Adam Berry on MLB.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates have expressed interest in free agent first baseman Mike Napoli. Berry also quotes Neal Huntington as saying the Pirates are “open to just about anything and everything” when looking into first baseman at this point.
With Michael Morse as their best option now at first base, the Pirates would like to add someone either to start ahead of him, or to complement him, which would likely mean a lefty bat. We have heard rumors about Napoli and the Pirates in the past as well, so it’s no surprise that his name has popped up again, even though he is a right-handed hitter.
The 34-year-old Napoli split the season between the Red Sox and Rangers, hitting a combined .224/.324/.410 in 133 games. He had a .789 OPS in 2014 and that was down from an .842 OPS the previous season. His defense is average at best over at first base, although that would be a huge improvement over the season Pedro Alvarez had there for the Pirates this year.
Napoli just finished a contract that paid him $16M a year over the last two seasons, so with his steadily declining offense at an offensive-minded position, he would need to accept a large pay cut at this point. The Pirates would be looking for a one-year deal due to Josh Bell being close to Major League ready in AAA. A legitimate first baseman would give Bell more time to work on his defense and polish off his offense. If Napoli regains some of his old form, he could allow the Pirates to let Bell get some more time in before his big league debut.
UPDATE Wednesday 8:37 PM: Travis Sawchik also says that the Pirates are interested in Napoli.
Source: Pirates have interest in free agent 1B Mike Napoli, who has a good relationship with Clint Hurdle. @adamdberry first on this
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) December 10, 2015
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
I like Napoli because his power will not be hurt by the long fences in Left field- defense average at best doesn’t fit his UZR rating over there which was one of the best in 13 and 14. If you can get him on a 1-8 or anything less, or a second year even with a option, I’m good with that
More depressing news….Napoli…really??
Whew…it appears the Rockies are going to sign Mark Reynolds…he should do well there…and the Pirates will do better not having him on the team.
No on Napoli. With Walker and Pedro gone, we are down to one left handed bat, Polanco. Not exactly a lineup built for PNC Park, or to take advantage of the mostly right handed pitchers in the league. Sign Kazmir, and send Morton to Texas for Moreland. At least for the moment, this team is very poorly constructed.
Might just as well resign Sean Rodriguez at this point if this mishmash is the best we can come up with.
How much are you willing to invest in 1B place holders? I think Napoli would be better than Morse, but what about those necrotic hips, the Pirates didn’t have much success with Hart and his knees lacking cartilage.
Morse would see to be a better option. I wonder if the would consider playing Morse at 3rd until Kang is back? He came up as a SS. Otherwise he and Napoli are similar players
Bucs are talking to Rangers about A 1Bman. Now they’re talking to Napoli. Rangers want to move Fielder to make space. Morse, Morton and Diaz for Fielder who is owed $90M through 2020 but he’s only 31. M & M washes about $10M and the Rangers kick in another $10M. Rangers want Morton, Diaz and salary relief. Morse replaces Napoli.
He’s a full time DH now man. Even if the money was do able, the defense would erase his offensive value. So would taking him out of Arlington, which is one the smallest parks my ass has been in.
Pirates have shown interest in Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo!
I heard it is really Sean Casey for one year.
I heard it was Votto. Get your stories straight!
Sheesh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’d like to see NH pry Robbie Ray (preferred) or Chase Anderson (plan B, less prospect cost) away from Arizona, now that they have 7 legitimate* SPs. Lord knows the D-Backs could use a couple of upper level bats to restock the farm system.
I’d also sign Matt Thornton – to a 2 year deal if need be – to be the LOOGY.
*depending on what you think of Archie Bradley.
Christ, the *Pirates* could use a couple upper level bats to restock the farm system.
Put all of your money together, BN, and sign Chris Davis for 5 years at $25 Mil per year;
listen to offers for Cutch–to fill some holes–and put Marte in CF, since you have more young OF prospects than anything else.
I realize that’s too bold for Neal (and BN), but we were looking up at the Cards and Cubs before free agency began and that talent gap between us and them just got a lot bigger.
Or Mr. Nutting, if you are not willing to spend to compete, just sell the team.
Today’s sign of the Apocalypse is there was actually someone who up voted this post.
I wonder what you COULD get for Cutch……
I’d love to add Cargo to Marte- I’d prefer him over Cutch
What do you not understand? NO ONE will get paid more than Andrew McCutcheon on this team except Francisco Liriano annually and hopefully Gerrit Cole but who knows if that’s realistic. Why do you think Neil Walker didn’t get his extension? Bc they had it in their plans to depart w him a hell of a lot earlier than last season and they are not gonna give him more than their star player which he could get. It ruins the small market precedent they created plus you act like they can just open those pockets like it’s nothing.
Chris Davis is asking for 8 years and $200M, nice try though
I was waiting for this comment, it’s like clock work during this time of year.
Mark Cuban still wants a baseball team. Trading Cutch would suck, I don’t think you could do that Bell could go back to playing Right Field and let Polanco move to Left. But Chris Davis is a good move we need a lefty bat, to hit clean up, and 40 HR guy. Hopefully after this season ROOT Sports ponies up some money when the TV deal is up.
If Mark Cuban bought the team you wouldn’t have to trade Cutch. They would just be able to sign some one.
How rich the owner is- does not change the size of the market. No millionaire wants to lose money regardless of how deep his pockets are
Root Sports deal ends in 2018
Are you sure of that? I read the post the NMR posted a couple of days ago, and it said the Pirate deal with Root was for 20 years which means I will probably not be around when it is time to renew.
10 years. The Pens signed for 20. However, I do believe the Root deal ends in 2019, not 2018. But, Bucs could negotiate a new pact a year earlier like the Cards did, and have some idea of future revenue, allowing them to manipulate contracts accordingly.
Wait, what have the Cardinals done to increase the gap? They’ve lost 2/5 of their rotation (Lynn, Lackey) and 2/3 of their starting outfield (Jay/Bourjos, Heyward).
Did Heyward sign with someone else?
Not yet, but he’s no better than a 50/50 to return – the Cubs are after him.
Doesn’t sound like a very good idea to me. Player on the downside. Mitch Moreland sounds more promising. to me. Options are not that great. Seems like Pirates have had major hole at 1b since KY, and before that, since Pops. Too bad El Toro did not work out at the position!!!
Jeff King did okay…..and Laroche wasn’t a major hole
Bream was better then KY
Bream could field
I’m starting to feel like this is the Winter Meetings from 2005, not 2015. And if that’s the case, I’d like my hair back.
They need to move Shazier to 1st. Platoon him with Sprong.
Fastest 1b in mlb.
If the Bucs believe Morse can play vs LHP, then there is no need for a platoon… he hits both equally well. So either he’s the starter or he’s the backup, but this platoon talk makes little sense.
Have the Pirates said they don’t want Morse to face righties? Or that they don’t trust him to play every day? Because I’m having a hard time understanding why they’d want to waste money on a LH bat to complement Morse, especially if Bell is due up mid season.
He’s a righty hitter, so I certainly hope he can play vs. lhp
Not looking at it, but I recall seeing Morse has better splits vs RH Pitchers.
This splits are pretty even historically, he isn’t really a platoon player. When he hits he is fine against both sides, when he struggles, he struggles against all
when was the last year that Morse put up good numbers over a full season?
2014, 132 games and a 134 wRC+. The only reason he was at a mere 0.9 fWAR is because they put him in left field, and he’s pretty terrible at that.
that’s not the point. If he’s good enough to play half the time, he’s good enough to play all the time. otherwise he’s not good enough, period.
That’s *absolutely* the point. We’re not playing video games here. Risk associated with injury and poor performance has to be taken into account, and Morse unquestionably has a shit load of it.
Who plays when Morse pulls up lame with his yearly injury? Who plays when it takes Morse three months to “get in the groove”?
I don’t think he’s good enough period.
There’s almost no way Walker is moving to first, even if people want it to happen. It doesn’t help him at all and he’d be learning a new position. Remember, he’s a FA next year. I wonder if kicking the tires on Freeman isn’t a good idea. The Braves are full in rebuild mode. But if that happened, we’d have to either trade Bell or an OF.
Moreneau or Lind are my preferred deals. Moreland would be good. Napoli is just OK.
Is there anyway way we can get Adam Lind from the Brewers? I know he’s signed through 2016, but I think he’d be a great stopgap.
If we are going to consider the likes of Napoli, Reynolds, Rodriguez, Moreland for first base, moving Walker there would be the better move – you don’t have to give up anyone and he will produce better than anyone on this list. in time, I bet he would become at least an average first baseman defensively. He could be platooned with Morse (gulp) initially, in the hope that the Pirates will eventually decide to give Bell a shot.
Does anyone want to see Alvarez play 1B at this point?
Not even Pedro wants to see that. He should go to Japan on a 1 year deal and try to learn to throw again at 3rd and come back
Is Ishikawa still available and cheap? He could team with Morse at 1B until Bell is ready. The money and prospects could then be directed towards pitching.
Ishikawa is always available- he isn’t exactly a key cog in anyone’s organization
Ishi is perpetually available and cheap.
How many years in a row will this guy be cut before people stop thinking he can actually hit. He’d be a ST invite at best
don’t give NH any ideas….I heard he’s also checking on the availability of Ike Davis as well….
I’m beginning to think that maybe keeping Alvarez to play first base may have been the right move, if the alternative is some combination of Morse, Moreland, Napoli, Reynolds, Rodriguez playing first base in 2016. How about this radical idea – see if Bell can handle at least a platoon situation, before bringing on more salary in the form of aging, low production and upside veterans like this illustrious group? Then, maybe you could afford to sign a Kazmir….
Except you wouldn’t have Neise.
He hit a lot better in Texas. Just not sure how the power would translate at PNC. I’d have to see the price.
I hate just about every name I have heard this off season. I hope we end up with someone no one is mentioning.
You hate Kazmir?
His metrics and injury history are not great, plus I don’t believe it’s realistic. No way they would go the 18 million or so to sign him. It’s getting foolish, Zobrist at his price at 39?? smh. It’s almost like they are signing guys and paying them stupid sums later on because they know they can afford the useless money on the books. But we break the system giving Bell 5 million. The system needs to change, but I don’t think the owners should pocket more money either.
When we could’ve kept Happ – and paid him less – then yes, Kazmir doesn’t sound all that attractive.
Kazmir has been a quality starter a lot longer than 2-3 months, and yet he’s younger than Happ. I could be wrong, but I predict 2016 will show that Happ’s performance last year in Pittsburgh was a fluke.
Kazmir has always been worse than horrible a large portion of his career as well
Thing about Happ, he’s always pitched decent in the NL, 3rd starter numbers, and like a 5 in the AL.
See Burnett, AJ 2014. Although the Jays play better D than the Phillies did in 2014.
You believe in Ray, or you don’t.
I think he was just referring to the first basemen the Pirates supposedly have interest in – stellar performers like Napoli, Reynolds, Rodriguez, Moreland, and the like….
Not good enough! We need a real first baseman who can hit for power and play the position well! I like Walker at first, Josh at second, Kang at third!
Walker’s gone bro. Kang’s injured
You want a real first baseman and the very next sentence you want Walker at first? Newsflash, Walker’s never played first.
And he has little to no value at first. The reason he’s valuable, is because he does what he does at 2B.
At the deadline, I thought it was a good idea, but now…I dont know. Maybe…I’m still a bit higher on somebody like Lee.