Sources: Club, Mike Napoli have 1-year deal
Catcher Mike Napoli and the Texas Rangers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $9.4 million, according to sources. The agreement allows both sides to avoid a hearing, which was scheduled for Wednesday in Tampa, Fla.
Napoli's deal means Texas will continue its streak of not going to any arbitration hearings since 2000 (Lee Stevens).
Napoli's contract represents a $3.6 million raise from his 2011 salary ($5.8 million). He earned it after putting up a career-high .320 average with 30 homers and 75 RBIs in 113 games for the Rangers last season. Napoli, 30, was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays last January for reliever Frank Francisco. Napoli earned more playing time as the season progressed, batting .383 with 18 homers and 42 RBIs after the All-Star break. He likely would have been the World Series MVP had the Rangers won after batting .350 with two homers and 10 RBIs.
Napoli's only other big league club was the Angels, where he hit .238 with 26 homers and 68 RBIs in his final season there before the trade to Toronto as part of the Vernon Wells package. Napoli was only a Blue Jay for a few days before he was shipped to Texas.
MLBTradeRumors.com first reported that the deal was reached.
Richard Durrett
ESPNDallas.com
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Richard Durrett
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.
Bryan Dolgin
Bryan Dolgin joined ESPNDallas.com in February of 2011. This is his third season as the radio pre/post game show host of the Texas Rangers, and he also hosts Rangers Magazine. He has worked as a broadcaster for three minor league teams and has worked for ESPN 1000 in Chicago.
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
Jeff Caplan
Jeff Caplan joined ESPNDallas.com in December 2009. Jeff covers the Mavericks, Rangers and colleges. He has a wealth of experience in the area, covering multiple beats in his 11-plus years with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Ben Rogers
Ben Rogers joined ESPNDallas.com in November 2009. He is one half of "The Ben & Skin Show," heard weekdays from 9a-12p on 103.3 FM ESPN.
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UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR | 24-21 | 12-10 | 12-11 | L2 | |
| TEX | 27-18 | 11-9 | 16-9 | L1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR | 24-21 | 12-10 | 12-11 | L2 | |
| TEX | 27-18 | 11-9 | 16-9 | L1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR | 24-21 | 12-10 | 12-11 | L2 | |
| TEX | 27-18 | 11-9 | 16-9 | L1 |
TEAM LEADERS
| WINS LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Yu Darvish
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| BA | J. Hamilton | .379 | ||||||||||
| HR | J. Hamilton | 18 | ||||||||||
| RBI | J. Hamilton | 49 | ||||||||||
| R | I. Kinsler | 36 | ||||||||||
| OPS | J. Hamilton | 1.187 | ||||||||||
| ERA | Y. Darvish | 3.05 | ||||||||||
| SO | Y. Darvish | 63 | ||||||||||
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