Mike Napoli on the move again, this time to Texas
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Did Mike Napoli even go through customs in Canada?
The catcher, who was traded with outfielder Juan Rivera from the Angels to the Blue Jays for outfielder Vernon Wells last Friday, spent all of four days on Toronto’s roster.
Napoli reportedly was traded from the Blue Jays to the Texas Rangers for reliever Frank Francisco and cash considerations on Tuesday. Now, the Angels will be seeing a lot more of Napoli, who is expected to get at-bats for the Rangers as a catcher, first baseman and designated hitter.
Napoli, 29, hit .238 with 26 homers and 68 runs batted in in 140 games with the Angels last season, including a .305 average against left-handed pitching, the best mark on the team.
The right-handed Francisco went 6-4 with a 3.76 earned-run average and two saves in 56 appearances for the Rangers in 2010. He opened the season as the closer but moved to a setup role after Texas moved rookie Neftali Feliz into the closing job.
Francisco missed the final five weeks of the season and the entire playoffs because of a strained rib-cage muscle.
--Mike DiGiovanna