The Texas Rangers acquired catcher-first baseman Mike Napoli from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitcher Frank Francisco and cash considerations.
Napoli, 29, was acquired by the Blue Jays from the Angels for OF Vernon Wells on Jan. 21.
A news release from the Rangers on Thursday said the following:
The right-handed hitter batted .238 with 26 homers and 68 RBI in 140 games with the Angels in 2010, his fifth season with the club. Napoli set career bests for games, at bats (453), hits (108), doubles (24), homers, and RBI. He led the Angels in homers and slugging (.468), tied for fourth in doubles, and ranked fifth in RBI. Napoli also batted a team best .305 (43-141) vs. left-handed pitching.
After appearing exclusively behind the plate in his first four seasons with Los Angeles, Napoli started 67 games at first base (70 total games) and 59 at catcher (66 total games) in 2010. He became the Angels’ primary first baseman following the season ending injury to Kendry Morales on May 29. Napoli threw out 13 of 68 runners attempting to steal this past season.
Napoli is unsigned and eligible for salary arbitration in 2011, joining outfielder Josh Hamilton as Rangers still eligible for arbitration.
