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While Mike Napoli is believed to be their "No. 1 target," the Red Sox are also in discussions with free-agent outfielder Adam Laroche to take over at first base in Boston, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:
The Red Sox are engaging in talk with free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche as a possible first-base alternative to Mike Napoli.
Boston is believed to have offered Napoli a three-year deal but is reluctant to add a fourth year. LaRoche is expected to command three years, though negotiations are just getting started.
The 33-year-old LaRoche is still in talks with the Nationals about returning to D.C. for a third season, but the two sides are not close to a deal at the moment, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com. The Red Sox could be willing to go three years with the lefty slugger, which would better the Nationals’ standing two-year offer.
After an injury-plagued 2011, the lefty slugger put together a career year this past season, hitting .271/.343/.510 with a career-high 33 home runs in 154 games.
