Rangers acquire Napoli from Red Sox
Only a recent hot streak for Napoli has gotten his average back above the Mendoza Line.
Texas will send a player to be named later or cash considerations to Boston in the deal.
As for the Red Sox, they now have a chance to reconfigure their defense. He signed with the Red Sox in 2013 and hit in the middle of the lineup for their World Series winning club that season. It remains to be seen exactly what kind of role Napoli will take on with the Rangers, but he figures to at least play at first base against left-handed pitching.
Napoli, who underwent surgery in the offseason to alleviate a sleep apnea condition, was hitting.
Texas catcher Mike Napoli is greeted by teammates Mitch Moreland (18) and Ian Kinsler (5) after his third inning three-run homer during the Los Angeles Angels vs. the Texas Rangers major league baseball doubleheader game 2 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Sunday, September 30, 2012. It had gotten so bad, Napoli said, that he contemplated retirement. Napoli is batting only. 259 with 23 home runs and 92 RBIs. Texas has acquired Mike Napoli from Boston, the team announced. 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.