For years, the Indians have been searching for a big right-handed hitter.
Now that they've found Mike Napoli, they must find a way to keep him.
But the future of the first baseman/designated hitter in Cleveland is complicated. The risks in re-signing him are high, especially since Napoli turns 35 on Oct. 31.
His one-year, $7 million contract that included another $3 million in performance bonuses ($1 million already earned) turned out to be a bargain for the American League Central leaders. In 2017, that won't be the case.
Napoli is having a career year, already reaching highs in home runs (33), RBIs (94), plate appearances (511) and runs scored (87) and will want to be rewarded for it. This will be his last hurrah contract and he surely will seek more than $10 million a year, perhaps for two years.
Since the start of the 2015 season, the Indians have already seen three older players _ Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn and Juan Uribe _ fall off the career cliff. The huge free-agent signings of Swisher and Bourn became a ball and chain before they were miraculously traded to the Atlanta Braves (with a pile of cash) in August, 2015. The Indians might not want to pay big for Napoli for fear of a similar fate.
There are other issues at play.
First baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana has a $12 million club option for 2017 that seems likely to be picked up after his 31-homer season. The Tribe might be worried about the future of Yan Gomes, whose six-year, $23 million deal runs through 2019. Gomes hit just .165 before suffering a separated shoulder in July.
With Napoli, the Indians might have to decide what price they put on clubhouse chemistry.
Indians manager Terry Francona has repeatedly raved about Napoli's presence. He provides the veteran leadership younger players seek. In some respects, the fun-loving Napoli seems to be following in the footsteps of Jason Giambi, whom Francona relied on when the Indians reached the American League wild-card game in 2013.
Compounding the dilemma is the highly successful "Party at Napoli's" T-shirt slogan that has raised more than $120,000 for Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. Season ticket holder Nate Crowe, 37, who came up with the Indians' mantra, believes there will be fan backlash if Napoli is allowed to depart.
"Is it the traditional contract that always fits with what the Indians have always done? Probably not," Crowe said on Sept. 5. "But it would be heartbreaking and a little awkward not to have him back next year.
"When a fan favorite goes, it's almost always on the team, not the player. They want to follow the player and Mike's one of those players."
The Boston Red Sox faced a similar dilemma with the popular Napoli last season.
He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2013, but finger, back and knee injuries limited him to 119 games in 2014. That offseason he underwent toe surgery and another to correct obstructive sleep apnea. He was batting a career-low .207 when the Red Sox traded him to the Texas Rangers on Aug. 7, 2015.
Although Napoli wanted to play for Francona, he might price himself out of the Indians' range as a free agent. The Indians might decide not to take a big risk on another player whose days could be numbered. The team might merely enjoy the "Party at Napoli's," try to ride it to its first World Series title since 1948, then move on.
There is logic in that, but then the search for a big right-handed hitter will begin anew.
