Per MLB rumors, via Jon Heyman, on a 1 year/$5mil deal. Rangers had reopened discussions but couldnt offer as much playing time as Boston could.

Kinda disappointed we couldn't get him back at $5mil for a year, but I dont think we had space anyways.

Wow. Steep decline from 3/$39M.

There are incentives. But still. Wow.

Poor Mike Napoli. What a shame.

That hip must be terrible if it decreased his market vlaue that much.

A lot of incentive, bringing it to a potential $13mil. I wouldn't have matched that. Good for him, I suppose.

Your telling me Napoli couldn't find enough at bats between Soto, Moreland and Berkman to bring him back for that. Wow.

it is the same deal, just written differently to protect the Red Sox. If Nap plays his usual season it is for $13, plus there are additional options and years. So if the Rangers had resigned NAP it would have been in the $12 to 14m range, no way near $.5.5.

barring him dying, he's a lock to provide surplus value at that cost.

Soto makes $2.75 mil....Nap is easily worth the $5 mil just based off that. Sigh....

Well, damn.
Would have loved to have him on our bench for that in case Berkman is broken. Ack! Too bad.
Godspeed, dirtbag.

As more details emerge, les is mostly right. It is the same deal, just laden with normal incentives and "protective language." Consider this a $13mil deal. The rangers already denied Napoli a 1 yr/$13mil deal and moved on. Seems like nothing changed but the nature of the contract. This ship has sailed.

It is a strict one year deal. No other options from what I gather. I think the Rangers missed out on this one.

in other news, Harrison press conference at the ballpark this afternoon.

@EOD, They declined giving him a qualifying offer of 1/$13mil. Why would they all of a sudden try to give him that deal after moving on signing AJP and Berkman?

I have a hard time believing Texas would have offered between 12-14. I don't care what the role is, you don't deny a contract 3x the worth of the one you sign.

But like R'Bourne said, that ship has sailed. We can move on. If he gets over his hip has a productive 2013, maybe the Rangers look to bring him back in a 1B/DH capacity in '14.

"If he gets over his hip has a productive 2013, maybe the Rangers look to bring him back in a 1B/DH capacity in '14."

My thoughts exactly. Additionally, it give Moreland a final chance to truly be the full time 1B without MY and Nap blocking him. If he doesn't get it done this year, I can see Napoli platooning with AJP, DHing, and 1Bing in '14.

Contengent on Soto and Berkman being launched into the sun...

How did we miss out? AJ signed to be the full time catcher and is proven to provide consistent production year-round, Napoli has not showed in his entire career the ability to be/provide either (2.5 months over several seasons does not make one consistent, or productive.) We have a plethora of better defensive and offensive options at first/dh between Moreland, Olt, (Kinsler), Murphy, Cruz, Martin, (Profar), and Berkman. Soto is much better defensively than Napoli and is Yu's personal catcher. Soto may not have the power that Nap has, but his productive outs and ability to make contact with the ball can serve us better than the Napoli pop ups and strike outs. The best thing that Napoli did was take pitches and walk. However, his awful contact rate on swings is not something I want in the lineup.

Napoli was well liked in the clubhouse, fans and media, but I hardly see where it would have been productive to employee a guy for however much money that is inconsistent, does not make enough contact or provide enough productive outs to merit having two "catchers" in the lineup at any given moment.

Let Napoli go, I wish him the best and thank him for July - October 2011, but I am very glad he is not in Texas anymore. If you notice, JD has gotten rid of Wash's pets who could do no wrong - Arthur Rhodes, Darren Oliver, Mike Young, Mike Napoli, and to a degree, Josh Hamilton (whom, by most appearances, Wash hardly stood up to or managed as much as or as effectively as he should have, IMO) (This is not about Hamilton, let's move on).

Our team will be better without Napoli being a part of it. Go Rangers

Ha ... ha. I sure hope A.J. isn't back next year!

But yes, we'll see what Moreland's got. If Mike Olt isn't traded out of the org. come regular season, I could see he and Mitch platooning at 1B sometime in May -- after Olt clears the service time eligibility requirements to keep his 6 years of control. Mitch Moreland is just too wishy-wash against lefties for my infant blood.

Tpickles, who'd you have catch in 2014?

What an utter failure of the FO. No way to sugar coat.

^^^ lolz

Napoli was a 1/2 season wonder (at best) at the right time and otherwise just a good everyday catcher. We came out on top of this deal in every way, especially at 13+ mil.

@R'Bourne

Hm ... Hm ... Maybe ... I have no idea. Someone who isn't currently in the organization.