Red Sox 1B Napoli to increase workload

Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli will increase his baseball activity after an MRI showed that the condition of his afflicted hips has not worsened.

Napoli has a medical condition called avascular necrosis, which can lead to bone death and degeneration. Both of his hips are affected by it.

However, WEEI reported on Saturday that Napoli can increase work on a treadmill and take grounders from his knees because of the positive MRI result.

A former catcher, Napoli has made a fulltime move to first base because of his condition. His three-year, $39 million contract that was agreed to in December was later scaled down to a one-year deal with $5 million guaranteed after his diagnosis was known.