So the latest is a one year deal is the goal for the Sox with Napoli. At this point I really question the wisdom of continuing with this. I guess if you get the right vesting option that keeps him in town for year 2 and potentially 3 if he stays healthy it makes sense but if the Sox are truly this concerned about his health I'm just not a fan.

This is already an improvement. If this were a couple of years ago and they were concerned about his health on a 3-year deal, they'd have added a 4th and 5th year that vest if he stays off the DL in year 1 and 2, and he'd play through an injury for two years, miss the 3rd for surgery, suck the 4th year because he's not fully healed, and eventually turn it on in the 5th year, once he'd been traded back to the Rangers, with Boston picking up his full salary. A one-year deal is infinitely better than that.

If they're going to continue with Napoli, this is the way to do it. If they're concerned about injury they should either walk away or they should push for a shorter deal. To your point, they don't have to continue with him; but if they do, a one-year deal would mitigate the risk.

One thing to note... As bad as the medical staff has been in keeping players on the field, diagnosing injuries mid-season, etc., they have been very good at identifying injury risk during medical physicals at the time of signing. Both with the players they eventually signed and the players they walked away from, they have made some good calls.

How those calls translated into contracts wasn't that great... But that's another story.

This is where converting the 3rd (or maybe even 2nd) year into a vesting option would be great, as long as it vests based on performance in addition to playing time (to avoid the problem VI identifies). As I recall though, that's no longer allowed for some reason that I do not understand at all. Alternatively though, why not just have a non-vesting option? Is it just that Napoli would never agree to that at a reasonable price?

Alternatively though, why not just have a non-vesting option? Is it just that Napoli would never agree to that at a reasonable price?

I doubt he would. The problem for Napoli right now is that teams are likely to view him as damaged goods if this falls through. 13+13(vesting option)+13(vesting option) is going to be better than what he is probably going to get if he hits the market again. However, I imagine pride would make him tell the Sox to shove a 13+13(club option)+13(club option). At that point he'll go take 8-10 million for one year and go back at it next year is my guess.

Seems like the hip woes explain why Texas didn't extend the qualifying offer, right?

Jon Heyman has a maddeningly vague, if optimistic report on the Napoli talks. You could read the whole article, but I'm telling you, this is the extent of new information he provides:

There is a belief that there will be a resolution to the situation by next week at the latest.

It's good news, or from a different angle, it isn't news at all.

And Jim Bowden is reporting they're working on a one-year deal. Napoli must basically have blood sausage where his hip bones should be.

What's the expected cost for Morse? Of course Morse isn't exactly Cal Ripken in the durability department either.

Going to the Mariners.

Signed Napoli for 1 year and LESS THAN $13MM. Great deal.