Mike Napoli played Cuba Gooding Jr. Brian Grieper played Tom Cruise.
Maybe the profiles differ in some respects, but Napoli and his agent, Grieper, had a moment shortly after the Red Sox’ World Series win that was straight out of the movies.
“I have a picture of him and I and his beard right after the World Series,” Grieper said on WEEI’s Hot Stove Show on Thursday. “We hugged it out and had a Jerry Maguire moment right there where we both celebrated his World Series championship. It’s always great as an agent, as a fan of the game and a friend to celebrate those kinds of moments with people you truly care about.”
Grieper has known Napoli since the slugger was in high school, so their relationship can safely be described as a friendship. It’s why the two shared a warm embrace at Fenway Park on Oct. 30, and it’s why Grieper is channeling his inner Cruise and shouting, “Show me the money!” to teams scouring the open market this winter.
“As a free agent, you have to determine what the market is,” Grieper said. “You have to determine various considerations as to what your client wants to do. And then you have to explain all that information to your client. More than anything, you have to make sure your client is happy, because ultimately, he’s the boss. He’s the final decision-maker as to where he ends up going. My job is to help guide him through that process, keeping him informed and making sure he’s educated about all the various clubs that have been in touch.”
Napoli, who is currently a free agent, has stated previously that he’d like to remain in Boston, while the Red Sox have also expressed interest in continuing the relationship. Sticking with the whole Jerry Maguire theme, we might eventually be looking at a, “You complete me,” moment.
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