Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherrington continued efforts to remake his roster on Monday, signing catcher Mike Napoli to a three-year, $39 million deal.  Napoli joins the Red Sox as they continue efforts to remake the club in what seems the antithesis of the roster composed between 2009 and 2012.  First evidenced by their major shakeup with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and more recently in the signing of lefty killer Jonny Gomes, the Red Sox seem intent on building a team that values particular player' skill sets that can be effectively teamed up or platooned to take advantage of Fenway Park peculiarities and the AL East opponents’ heavy use of left handed pitchers.

Mike Napoli’s 2012 season line is eerily like his 2009 and 2010 slash lines:

• 2009: 114 games, .272/.350/.492, 2.9 WAR
• 2010: 140 games, .238/.316/.468, 2.8 WAR
• 2012: 108 games, .227/.343/.469, 2.0 WAR

I think it’s safe to say this is the production one can expect the above performance from Napoli, despite his outstanding 2011 campaign with the Texas Rangers:

• 2011: 113 games, .320/.414/.631, 5.6 WAR (remember, he held a .344 BABIP in 2011; far above his .299 career BABIP)

Napoli seems a good fit in Boston, as he’s been able to compile a career 1.107 OPS in Fenway Park (granted, in just 73 career plate appearances). What’s concerning though is how he’ll fit into the Red Sox lineup.  Napoli cannot be counted upon as a catcher, as he’s already 31, not terribly mobile, and has never been even an average defender.  Further, the Red Sox seem to be stockpiling catchers; they’ve got incumbent Jarrod Saltamacchia, prospect Ryan Lavarnway, and free agent signee David Ross. Napoli will likely get his ABs at first base as the position is vacant. Manager John Farrell can safely pencil Napoli in for 20 HRs, long at-bats and right handed batting protection for David Ortiz. However, his career slash line is a far cry from the power one would expect from a corner bat in the AL East.

The Red Sox are clearly taking a different approach to team building than what we’ve seen over the past five years.  It remains to be seen whether they’re accurately targeting players with the appropriate platoon splits and unique skill sets, or simply mired in a cycle of roster reloading without the appropriate big guns necessary for the AL East.