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Durrett: Rangers, Napoli talking long-term contract

According to Richard Durrett, the Rangers are engaging in talks with Mike Napoli about a long-term contract extension. Jon Paul Morosi also tweeted that "there's a very good chance" an extension will be done by Opening Day.

Napoli, 30, was acquired by the Rangers last offseason from Toronto in exchange for Frank Francisco just a week after the Blue Jays had landed Napoli from Anaheim as part of the Vernon Wells trade.

Napoli came to Texas with a reputation for being a slugging catcher who wasn't good behind the plate, but his glovework and handling of pitchers got good reviews from the Rangers coaching staff and pitchers in 2011.


Mike Napoli

#25 / Catcher / Texas Rangers

6-0

215

R

R

Oct 31, 1981


Napoli had a career season in 2011, putting up a 1046 OPS in 113 games, despite spending several weeks on the disabled list.

Napoli is a free agent after the 2012 season, so it makes sense for the Rangers to try to lock him up on a multi-year deal now, particularly if they are willing to commit to him as their regular catcher going forward. The concern with Napoli is that he has spent most of his career as a part-time player...aside from 2010, when he logged 510 plate appearances (and had the lowest OPS of his career), he's never had more than last season's 432 plate appearances (a number he matched in 2009). In addition, his career high in games started at catcher is 84.

Napoli's offensive performance last season probably isn't sustainable, but if he puts up close to his career averages (.264/.359/.514) for the next few seasons, with decent defense behind the plate, he has significant value. I've suggested I'd be comfortable with three years, $25 million, but I suspect it would take a little more than that -- 3/$30, maybe -- to get a deal done.


Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+
2006 24 LAA AL 99 325 268 47 61 13 0 16 42 2 3 51 90 .228 .360 .455 .815 110
2007 25 LAA AL 75 263 219 40 54 11 1 10 34 5 2 33 63 .247 .351 .443 .794 107
2008 26 LAA AL 78 274 227 39 62 9 1 20 49 7 3 35 70 .273 .374 .586 .960 147
2009 27 LAA AL 114 432 382 60 104 22 1 20 56 3 3 40 103 .272 .350 .492 .842 120
2010 28 LAA AL 140 510 453 60 108 24 1 26 68 4 2 42 137 .238 .316 .468 .784 115
2011 29 TEX AL 113 432 369 72 118 25 0 30 75 4 2 58 85 .320 .414 .631 1.046 171
6 Seasons 619 2236 1918 318 507 104 4 122 324 25 15 259 548 .264 .359 .514 .873 129
162 Game Avg. 162 585 502 83 133 27 1 32 85 7 4 68 143 .264 .359 .514 .873 129
LAA (5 yrs) 506 1804 1549 246 389 79 4 92 249 21 13 201 463 .251 .346 .485 .831 119
TEX (1 yr) 113 432 369 72 118 25 0 30 75 4 2 58 85 .320 .414 .631 1.046 171
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/20/2011.