Napoli, Red Sox sign 2-yr, $32M deal

BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox finalized their two-year deal with first baseman Mike Napoli on Thursday, bringing back one of the biggest hitters from the World Series team.

Napoli will earn $32 million through 2015. The terms were agreed to last week, when Napoli tweeted, "The beard is coming back to Boston!!! Couldn't be happier!!"

Napoli's bushy beard made him one of the most visible stars of the Red Sox, but it was his bat that helped them win the World Series. He drove in seven runs in the postseason as the Red Sox beat Tampa Bay, Detroit and St. Louis.

Napoli hit .259 with 23 home runs and 92 RBIs this year in his first season with the Red Sox.

To make room for Napoli on the 40-man roster, outfielder Alex Castellanos was designated for assignment.

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