Report: Miami Marlins Still in Mix for Mike Napoli?

Oct 30, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli (top) hits a RBI single against St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Lance Lynn (31) in the fourth inning during game six of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins are returning to their 2011/2012 off-season ways of throwing money at free agents. Okay, not really, but the the team has already signed two players for contracts worth $24 million this off-season and don’t seem to be done just yet. The team is still seeking a first baseman and a third baseman.

Earlier today Co-Editor Chris Logel mentioned that the Marlins have interest in former Pirates first baseman, Garret Jones. It seems that incumbent first baseman Logan Morrison better keep his bags packed and ready to go, as Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports dropped this news on Twitter:

Napoli was teammates with Marlins new catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on the 2013 World Champion Boston Red Sox.

It’s awesome to see that Loria and the Marlins front office are ready to spend to make the Marlins roster an improvement in 2014 and hopefully a contender by 2015/2016, but the chances of them adding Napoli seem very slight.

Rosenthal mentions the Rangers and Red Sox as the main competition for the DH/1B, and we all know both those teams have a lot looser wallets than the Marlins do. Napoli was offered arbitration earlier in the off-season and rejected it, so the Marlins would be subject to giving up a draft pick if they signed him. (The Marlins would lose their second round pick because their first round pick is top 10 protected.)

While he’d likely be expensive, Napoli would have been a decent addition to the Marlins lineup, which saw little-to-no production from first base last season. In 2013 Napoli had a .259/.360/.482 slash line with a .367 wOBA and 23 home runs.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t make much sense for me to see the Marlins try and outbid the Rangers and Sox for a 32-year old’s bat. Napoli is seeking a three-to-four year deal and would be entering his mid-30’s by the time the team is ready to contend again. It is questionable whether his bat would still produce at the same level when the Marlins are ready to be a playoff team.

What do you guys think? Do the Marlins continue their quest for Napoli or should they abandon it and stick with Logan Morrison at first? Let us know what you think by dropping a comment in the comment section!