Texas Rangers: Could Mike Napoli Be Headed to The Yankees?

The July 31st trade deadline is over, but that doesn’t mean that the Rangers still can’t make moves. The Yankees are reportedly interested in slugger Mike Napoli, but should Texas make the trade?

The trades may not be over in Arlington as the Texas Rangers could have another deal cooking. The injury bug has bitten the Yankees and left them without a reliable option at first base/DH. Could they acquire Mike Napoli from the Rangers to fill their void?

This season Napoli is hitting .200 with 22 home runs and 48 RBI in 95 games. He is currently posting a -0.4 WAR and has been disappointing in 2017. The Rangers could look for a small return on the little value Napoli still has right now.

The Rangers signed Napoli to a one-year $8.5 million deal for the 2017 season. He has an $11 million team option for 2018 and a $2.5 million buyout. It’s likely the Rangers will decline the team option which means they should definitely trade Napoli.

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Getting something for the 35-year-old slugger is better than nothing. It might be a low-level player or even cash considerations, but Napoli doesn’t bring much to the table in Arlington anymore.

This trade could potentially open up the door for prospect Ronald Guzman to come into the Majors. The 22-year-old is hitting .317 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI in 103 games at Triple-A Round Rock this season.

It’s likely the Rangers call up Guzman in September, but a Napoli trade could mean he gets promoted earlier. The Rangers believe Guzman is the future at first base, and keeping Napoli around is unnecessary at this point.

Unless a miracle happens the Rangers are not headed to the postseason in 2017. It would be a better idea to promote Guzman than let Napoli play out the season. There is not much traction on this deal yet, but general manager Jon Daniels should pursue it.

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It’s hard to imagine Napoli being back in a Ranger uniform next season. It’s a smart move by the Rangers to get something for the slugger while they still can.