Mike Napoli agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images Sport)

Mike Napoli and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a one-year deal that will pay him $34 million less than the contract he and the team agreed to earlier this offseason, according to multiple reports.

Napoli had originally agreed to join Boston on a three-year, $39 million deal. But Napoli failed his physical with the team, Red Sox doctors determined. ESPN reported that Napoli reopened negotiations with the Rangers, his team the past two seasons, before deciding to stick with his plan of joining Boston.

His deal with the Red Sox, with a base salary of $5 million, will reportedly include incentives that could bump it up to $13 million — his average salary in the deal to which he had agreed in December.

Napoli was an All-Star last season with the Rangers. But he hit only .227 with 24 home runs in 108 games playing mostly catcher. His numbers had dropped from 2011, the best season of his career, when he hit .320 with 30 home runs.

With Boston, Napoli will primarily play first base, replacing Adrian Gonzalez, who was traded to the Dodgers last season.

Mike Napoli and the Red Sox have yet to finalize a 3-year, $39 million deal. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

At least one team has talked with Mike Napoli’s representatives since his negotiations with the Red Sox have stalled, according to multiple baseball sources in a WEEI.com report.

One source believes no contract has been offered other than the Red Sox’s deal originally agreed upon in early December.

The Red Sox have yet to sign off on a three-year, $39 million deal after a physical revealed a concern regarding the free agent’s hip.

Earlier Thursday, multiple reports linked the Red Sox and free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche as a possible option if a contract with Napoli is not finalized.

UPDATE: The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a 3-year, $39 million deal with catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli.

The Red Sox appear to be close to signing free-agent catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli, according to a report from WEEI and other media sources.

Sox working hard trying to get Napoli.—
Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) December 03, 2012

#RedSox officials are talking about Mike Napoli like he's part of the team.—
Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) December 03, 2012

The deal is expected to be for three years.

The addition of Napoli to the Red Sox’s already deep collection of catchers should give fuel to speculation that the team will entertain trade offers for Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Ryan Lavarnway, while keeping recently signed $6.2 million backup catcher David Ross.

As @NickCafardo reporterd, #RedSox also will let Napoli catch some, too. Hard to imagine them not trading a catcher.—
Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) December 03, 2012

Mike Napoli, along with Nick Swisher and Cody Ross, are being targeted by the Red Sox. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Red Sox are in contact with catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli and outfielders Nick Swisher and Cody Ross, reports CBSsports.com’s Jon Heyman. Seeking a first baseman and two outfielders, the trio is emerging as the team’s top choice.

Napoli is talking with the Mariners and Rangers, but the Red Sox appear to be his favorite. If Napoli goes elsewhere, the Red Sox will likely pursue Adam LaRoche, given the high price of long-shot option Josh Hamilton.

Swisher and Ross are both likely drawing attention from a myriad of teams, including the Giants, Braves, Mariners, Orioles, Phillies and potentially others. The Red Sox have been trying to re-sign Ross since the end of the season.

Free agent catcher and first baseman Mike Napoli will have a meeting with the Seattle Mariners, reports the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber.

According to an industry source, Napoli is scheduled to meet with the Mariners, who likely would utilize him primarily as a catcher.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported on other teams interested in Napoli via Twitter:

#mariners are definitely on mike napoli. other teams in mix include red sox & rangers.—
Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 23, 2012

The Red Sox offered Napoli a three-year deal, but he is holding out for a longer contract, according to ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden:

Mike Napoli holding out for 4th year from Red Sox…meeting with Mariners who might be willing to give the extra year according to sources—
JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) November 22, 2012

Napoli, 31, had 24 home runs and 56 RBIs last season with the Rangers. He was a career-low .224 at the plate and dealt with leg injuries throughout the year.

Mike Napoli is holding out for a fourth guaranteed year with the Mariners and Red Sox possibly willing to oblige, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN.com.

Mike Napoli holding out for 4th year from Red Sox…meeting with Mariners who might be willing to give the extra year according to sources—
JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) November 22, 2012

The Mariners, Red Sox and Yankees have been linked to Napoli since hit free agency after hitting .227 with 24 home runs and 56 RBIs in 417 at-bats with the Rangers, who did not extend a qualifying offer.

Will Josh Hamilton be part of the Red Sox’s bid to add more payroll? (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said Thursday that the team’s payroll will be “very large” and among the league’s highest at the end of the offseason.

“It’s harder to predict this offseason than it has been in previous offseasons because in previous offseasons we’ve been closer to that, closer to where we’ll end up,” Cherington said in an interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI, according to ESPN. “Especially last offseason, when we were making more cosmetic changes.

“I know that we’ll have a very strong payroll, a large payroll. I know that we’re going to add to it this winter. I’m confident in saying that we’ll be amongst the larger payrolls in the game. Exactly where it ends up, exactly what rank we are, I don’t know that yet. I think it just depends on what we do. We’re not going to shoot for an arbitrary payroll number just to say that we’re going to get to this. We just have to look at each opportunity as it comes and figure out whether it’s the right thing for the Red Sox.”

The Red Sox come into the offseason with only about $45 million committed to their roster. That’s because they shipped Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the season, freeing up nearly $250 million in future salary.

Cherington would not say if he planned to make any “big splashes,” but he did say he’s been in touch with “just about every agent of any prominent free agent.”

The Red Sox are reportedly interested in entering the bidding for free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton. And they also reportedly plan to target free agents Michael Bourn, Mike Napoli and Stephen Drew.

Both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have expressed interest in free-agent catcher Mike Napoli, according to separate reports. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported via Twitter on Monday that the Yankees were intrigued by adding Napoli.

Mike Napoli, the Texas #Rangers free-agent catcher, is drawing interest from the New York #Yankees

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 12, 2012

Earlier on Monday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the Red Sox had also begun “extensive background work” on potentially adding Napoli as a catcher, first baseman or some combination thereof.

The 31-year-old Napoli is known for his prowess in the batter’s box more than his defense behind the plate. In 2011, his breakout season, he hit .320 with 30 homers and a 1.045 OPS. Last year, he hit only .227, but he had 24 homers and an .816 OPS. He and A.J. Pierzynski are the most desirable catchers on the free-agent market this winter.

The Yankees have an open slot at catcher, with Russell Martin also on the free-agent market. He is reportedly drawing interest from at least five other clubs, though the Yankees would like to bring him back.

The Texas Rangers and C Mike Napoli have avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year deal worth $9.4 million, according to MLBTradeRumors.com.

Napoli had originally asked for $11.5 million.

Napoli, 30, earned just $5.8 million last season while hitting 30 home runs and driving in 75 runs for the World Series runners-up.