Free agent Mike Napoli might catch again

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In his Sunday column for the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo mentions that free agent first baseman Mike Napoli rose his free agent stock by performing well in the second half and playing a little left field. He also mentions that he could go back to catching, though not on a full-time (and ostensibly not even a part-time) basis.

Napoli hasn’t caught since 2012 with the Rangers, when he spent 72 games at catcher. Then the Red Sox signed him to a one-year, $5 million deal and used the veteran as a full-time first baseman.

Napoli, 34, hit .224/.324/.410 with 18 home runs and 50 RBI in 469 plate appearances overall this past season. He struggled with the Red Sox, who shipped him to the Rangers in August. He hit .295/.396/.513 in 91 PA with his new team, helping them win the AL West.

Bill Baer, NBC's Hardball Talk

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