Texas Rangers trade for Mike Napoli

The Texas Rangers have agreed to a deal that will bring first baseman Mike Napoli to the club, according to multiple reports on Twitter.

Napoli, 33, was with the Rangers in 2011 and 2012, and became a fan favorite while getting time at catcher, first base and DH.  Napoli has been with Boston since the start of the 2013 season, and no longer catches, playing exclusively first base or DH.  Napoli has a .207/.307/.386 line on the season, although he is hitting .229/.345/.500 against lefties.

Napoli will presumably end up platooning at first base with Mitch Moreland the rest of the season.  It remains to be seen what the Rangers are giving up for Napoli, and who gets sent down to make room for him on the 25 man roster.  I have to think Boston will be getting little except for some salary relief -- Napoli cleared revocable trade waivers because no team was willing to absorb his salary, so I'm guessing that Boston is eating a good chunk of his deal and getting a nominal return.

As for clearing a spot on the 25 man roster, the Rangers will presumably option either Ryan Rua or Ryan Strausborger.  Rua is the better hitter and more versatile player in that he can also play some infield positions, but Strausborger is the only player on the roster, other than Delino DeShields, who can handle center field.

UPDATE -- Its official.  John Blake just tweeted that the Rangers acquired Napoli for a player to be named later or cash.

UPDATE II -- Kyle Blanks has been moved to the 60 day d.l. to open up a 40 man roster spot for Napoli.

UPDATE III -- Per Jon Heyman, the Rangers are paying Napoli $1.5M the rest of the season; the remainder of the roughly $5.6M he is due this year will be paid by Boston.