The Texas Rangers are getting the band back together again. First, they re-acquired Josh Hamilton from the Los Angeles Angels and now they are bringing back another former Ranger from their World Series teams.
Mike Napoli is heading back to Texas from the Boston Red Sox.
Napoli is in the final year of his contract that he signed with Boston before the 2013 season. He isn’t having his best season though.
He currently has a .207/.307/.386 with 13 homers and 40 RBI in 98 games. Over his last 15 games, however, he is hitting .260 with three homers and nine RBI.
Napoli gives the Rangers a right-handed power bat that they desperately need. The only right-handed pop they have in their order is Adrian Beltre and he hasn’t been healthy all season long. The Rangers have Hamilton, Shin-Soo Choo, Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland from the left side along with top propsect Joey Gallo in AAA who is also a left-handed hitter.
This season against left-handed pitching, Napoli is hitting just .229, however it’s 32 points higher than his average vs righties. He’s also added seven homers and 16 RBI. He will likely play first against lefties since Moreland hits 46 points worse against lefties than righties.
The Red Sox continue to sell of pieces. They traded Shane Vicotorino to the Angels for Josh Rutledge before the deadline and now send Napoli out.
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