g the Anaheim fans in his usual understated man

BOSTON -- Mike Napoli showed the Boston Red Sox he could have a strong season despite a hip condition that delayed his signing a year ago. So they rushed to re-sign the first baseman who general manager Ben Cherington described Friday as "a unique player." The World Series champions finalized a $32 million, two-year agreement Thursday with the slugging former catcher who turned into a surprisingly good defender. "It was clearly one of our priorities," Cherington said in a conference call. "When we pursued Mike last year and ultimately signed him we did that because we felt like his skill set would obviously help us on the field and we also heard a lot about his reputation as a teammate." After agreeing to a $39 million, three-year contract last December, the Red Sox heard about his avascular necrosis condition in both hips that can cause bone tissue to die because of poor blood supply. About six weeks later, in late January, a $5 million, one-year deal was reached. With performance bonuses, Napoli ended up making $13 million. His new contract has no provisions protecting the team against hip problems, Cherington said. The 32-year-old Napoli was eager to return to the city he excited with his homers and bushy beard. "After going through what I went through last year, it was definitely a relief to just go through this," he said. "Im happy to be back. I wanted to be in a place where I was comfortable and somewhere where we can win." Fears about his hips were unfounded, at least for last season. The eight-year veteran had career highs in at bats, run, hits, doubles, RBIs, walks and strikeouts and made just six errors in his first full season as a first baseman. He also had a good time bonding with his beard-tugging teammates. "As a player, its probably the best time Ive ever had being around a group of guys," Napoli said. "It was a lot of fun going to the park every day, seeing those guys, trying to see what was going to happen that day, see how we were going to mess around with each other." With fellow newcomers Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino and David Ross, Napoli was part of a tight-knit group that changed the clubhouse culture from the previous year. "Having spent several months around him, it became very clear that he was not just an important part of the team on the field," Cherington said, "but, really, a particularly important guy in the clubhouse. Really, a lot of things that Mike does as a player and as a teammate are things that we believe in strongly. Hes accountable. Hes responsible. Hes prepared." Napoli said other teams were interested in signing him. He had been comfortable the previous two seasons in Texas but told his agent he wanted to stay in Boston. He batted .259 with 23 home runs and 92 RBIs then hit two key solo homers in the AL championship series against Detroit -- in a 1-0 win in Game 3 and a 4-3 win in Game 5. The Red Sox won that series in six games. In the post-season, Napoli drove in seven runs as Boston also beat Tampa Bay in the division series and St. Louis in the World Series. "Were confident that Mike is healthy," Cherington said, "and we feel that hes going to be a great part of our team for the next couple of years and, hopefully, beyond." Napoli just wants to get started on his second season with Boston after winning the World Series in his first. "After going through this and being able to sit down and realize what happened for me, it makes me hungry," Napoli said. "I cant wait to get back on the field, be with my teammates again, and try to do it again." 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Mike Singletary Womens Jersey . -- The Phoenix Coyotes have won three in a row for the first time in 4 1/2 months, and theyve done it just in time for the stretch run to the playoffs. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Randy Carlyle acknowledged the standing ovation with a brief wave of his hand, thanking the Anaheim fans in his usual understated manner for their appreciation of his tenure behind the Ducks bench. Carlyle was even more grateful to leave Honda Center with yet another win for his surging Toronto Maple Leafs. Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak each had a goal and two assists, and the Maple Leafs celebrated Carlyles return with a 3-1 victory over the Ducks on Monday night. "Its always satisfaction when you beat your former hockey club," Carlyle said. "Im not going to hide that fact. I feel good about it." Paul Ranger scored and Jonathan Bernier made 43 saves as Toronto opened a five-game trip with its third consecutive victory, leapfrogging Montreal into second place in the Atlantic Division. Carlyle was back in Anaheim for the first time since the Ducks fired the only coach to lead the franchise to a Stanley Cup title. He was greeted warmly in the first period during a video tribute on the scoreboard. "It was kind of touching," Carlyle said. "I didnt really know what to expect. Im very appreciative and thankful for the people that supported me in my time here, and my family. Its a very special place, and as Ive said, were moving back into the area at some point in our life." His Leafs then forced the Ducks to play almost as poorly as they were playing when he got fired. Bernier didnt have to make many tough saves despite his gaudy stats for the Leafs, who are ramping up for their second trip to the post-season under Carlyle, earning points in 10 of their past 12 games. "I think he was pretty excited," Bozak said of his coach. "He might have been a little more nervous for this one, but were glad we could get it for him." Carlyle won a club-record 273 games and made the playoffs five times in his six full seasons with the Ducks, but was fired in November 2011 with Anaheim off to a miserable start. The Ducks have done exceptionally well since the change to Bruce Boudreau, who won 100 games faster than any coach in franchise history and led Anaheim to last seasons Pacific Division title. Corey Perry scored his 35th goal and Frederik&nbbsp;Andersen stopped 20 shots in the Ducks third straight loss to playoff-bound Eastern Conference teams.dddddddddddd. "Were in a funk," Boudreau said. "And weve just got to get out of it before too long, and do what we do. Weve just got to get back on our horse." Before this loss to end a five-game homestand, Anaheim fell one point behind streaking St. Louis in the overall NHL standings with consecutive shootout losses to Montreal and Pittsburgh. The Ducks hadnt lost in regulation since before the Olympic break, but they couldnt generate many serious scoring chances against Bernier and the Leafs shot-blocking defence. "We should have had more guys in front to make screens, tips, and get in the dirty areas," Ducks defenceman Francois Beauchemin said. "Right now were struggling to score goals because were not going to the front of the net and winning those battles and getting those tough goals." Toronto took the lead during 4-on-3 play late in the first period when Bozak redirected a pass from captain Dion Phaneuf. Kessel then roared past two Ducks defencemen and got a fortunate bounce off Andersens stick for his 34th goal. Kessel, the NHLs second-leading scorer after breaking his tie with Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, also snapped his first three-game goal drought since early January. Early in the second period, an atrocious Ducks breakdown led to Rangers goals. The Ducks broke through at the end of a dominant shift by their top line late in the second, with Perry banging home a puck on the doorstep for his fifth goal in five games since the break. Anaheim went scoreless on four power plays, dropping into an 0-for-19 slump since the break. NOTES: Carlyle isnt the only former Anaheim resident who returned with the Leafs: Joffrey Lupul, Peter Holland and Troy Bodie all played for the Ducks, while defenceman Jake Gardiner was a top Anaheim prospect before the club traded him along with Lupul for Beauchemin in February 2011. ... Anaheim C Mathieu Perreault missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury. Boudreau expects him to return Wednesday in Calgary. ... The Ducks are 4-6-2 at home since their 20-0-2 start to the season. ' ' '