A versatile Mike Napoli and a likely motivated Juan Rivera has Alex Anthopoulos excited about their prospects with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011.
The second-year general manager discussed his latest off-season acquisitions with Toronto sports radio station the Fan 590 on Monday, three days after trading centre-fielder Vernon Wells and the $86 million US left on his contract to the Los Angeles Angels.
Napoli, 29, a reasonable defensive catcher who can also play first base, is headed to salary arbitration. He's seeking $6.1 million, while the Angels countered at $5.3 million.
Napoli reached career highs in home runs (26) and runs batted in (68) last season in 453 at-bats, appearing in 140 games, including 70 at first.
"He has always had good power," Anthopoulos said. "We think getting out of [pitcher-friendly Angels Stadium] and coming into our park [Rogers Centre], the fact that he can catch, the fact he can play first, he can DH, he walks … there's a lot of value there."
Anthopoulos believes Napoli has a chance to make up the 30 homers lost with the departure of Wells, who has four years left on a seven-year contract.
The GM also noted Napoli's ability to reach base. While his on-base percentage was a career-low .316 in 2010, it was as high as .374 in 2008 and .350 the following season.
"It's nice to have a guy like Napoli that can play all those positions and spell so many players," Anthopoulos said, adding the power and on-base percentage Napoli brings "is very appealing to us."
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