“I think a lot of people that came here understood what happened last year,” Lester said. “We wanted to be a blip in the radar, and I think those guys saw that and said, ‘These guys’ track record speaks for themselves. We’re not going to base our decision on one down year.’ We have a good core, a good group of guys who know how to win and want to win (emphasis added), and I think that helped get some of these guys over here.”

According to multiple major league sources, the Sox have reached a three-year deal with free agent Mike Napoli. (Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the deal is for $39 million.) Napoli thus becomes the third signing by the Red Sox this winter who fits the profile of a power hitter who exhausts pitchers with tenacious at-bats.