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Boston Red Sox deal Mike Napoli to Texas Rangers
DETROIT -- First baseman Mike Napoli, who on multiple occasions expressed hope he could stay in Boston, was traded by the Red Sox to the Texas Rangers along with cash in a waiver deal Friday, the teams announced.
The Red Sox will receive a player to be named later or cash in the trade.
Napoli played two seasons with the Rangers, in 2011 and '12, before joining the Red Sox as a free agent in the ensuing offseason.
While in Texas, he batted .320 with a career-high 30 homers as the Rangers won their second consecutive American League pennant in 2011. He hit .350 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in the World Series loss to St. Louis.
The following season, Napoli had 24 homers in 108 games and was the AL's starting catcher in the All-Star Game.
After signing with the Red Sox, he played an integral role in the team's 2013 World Series championship.
When a chronic condition nullified his original three-year deal with Boston, making him a free agent again after the 2013 season, Napoli rejected a strong bid from the Rangers to return to Texas.
Instead, he signed a two-year, $32 million deal with Boston, which he had embraced as his offseason home, that was set to expire at the end of this season. With the Red Sox out of contention and the Rangers trying to climb back into the AL West race, the Red Sox were open to dealing Napoli, who turns 34 on Oct. 31.
Napoli's production slipped last season, when he dealt with toe, finger, back and knee injuries that limited him to 119 games. He hit 17 home runs, his fewest since he became an everyday player in 2009, and drove in 55 runs while posting a slash line of .248/.370/.419/.789.
During the offseason, he underwent major surgery that involved the fracturing of his upper and lower jaw to alleviate a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, one he said had deprived him of a good night's sleep for eight years. It had gotten so bad, according to Napoli, that he contemplated retirement.
The surgery was a success, and Napoli says he's resting better than he has in years. He also had offseason toe injury.
Napoli has struggled mightily at the plate this season. On July 22, he was batting only .198. But in 14 games since, he's posted a .957 OPS with six doubles and three home runs, raising his overall average to .207.
Napoli was scheduled to start Friday night's game for Boston at first base until the team announced a lineup change just before game time.
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington made it clear this week that the team's preference is to keep Pablo Sandoval at third base and Hanley Ramirez in left field. Travis Shaw played first base Friday night, and the Red Sox could recall right-handed-hitting Allen Craig, the former Cardinal, from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Craig has posted a .274/.379/.341/.720 slash line at Pawtucket, but with just 11 extra-base hits (8 doubles, 3 home runs) in 252 at-bats. He was batting .324 in his past 10 games.
The Red Sox will receive a player to be named later or cash in the trade.
Napoli played two seasons with the Rangers, in 2011 and '12, before joining the Red Sox as a free agent in the ensuing offseason.
While in Texas, he batted .320 with a career-high 30 homers as the Rangers won their second consecutive American League pennant in 2011. He hit .350 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in the World Series loss to St. Louis.
The following season, Napoli had 24 homers in 108 games and was the AL's starting catcher in the All-Star Game.
After signing with the Red Sox, he played an integral role in the team's 2013 World Series championship.
When a chronic condition nullified his original three-year deal with Boston, making him a free agent again after the 2013 season, Napoli rejected a strong bid from the Rangers to return to Texas.
Instead, he signed a two-year, $32 million deal with Boston, which he had embraced as his offseason home, that was set to expire at the end of this season. With the Red Sox out of contention and the Rangers trying to climb back into the AL West race, the Red Sox were open to dealing Napoli, who turns 34 on Oct. 31.
Napoli's production slipped last season, when he dealt with toe, finger, back and knee injuries that limited him to 119 games. He hit 17 home runs, his fewest since he became an everyday player in 2009, and drove in 55 runs while posting a slash line of .248/.370/.419/.789.
During the offseason, he underwent major surgery that involved the fracturing of his upper and lower jaw to alleviate a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, one he said had deprived him of a good night's sleep for eight years. It had gotten so bad, according to Napoli, that he contemplated retirement.
The surgery was a success, and Napoli says he's resting better than he has in years. He also had offseason toe injury.
Napoli has struggled mightily at the plate this season. On July 22, he was batting only .198. But in 14 games since, he's posted a .957 OPS with six doubles and three home runs, raising his overall average to .207.
Napoli was scheduled to start Friday night's game for Boston at first base until the team announced a lineup change just before game time.
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington made it clear this week that the team's preference is to keep Pablo Sandoval at third base and Hanley Ramirez in left field. Travis Shaw played first base Friday night, and the Red Sox could recall right-handed-hitting Allen Craig, the former Cardinal, from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Craig has posted a .274/.379/.341/.720 slash line at Pawtucket, but with just 11 extra-base hits (8 doubles, 3 home runs) in 252 at-bats. He was batting .324 in his past 10 games.