The Rangers’ interest in first baseman Mike Napoli is real, but the pursuit hasn’t exactly been all-out, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes. While there’s certainly a financial component to the current standoff, Wilson argues that the team’s mix of alternatives at first base and DH may also be an independent factor. It’s time the club finds out whether Ryan Rua, Jurickson Profar, and Joey Gallo can handle regular MLB roles, he suggests, and that may be holding the Rangers back from pushing to land Napoli.
Here’s more from the American League:
- While it seems as if the door is all but shut on a return of Matt Wieters to the Orioles, Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com wonders whether Baltimore ought to reconsider. If the price has fallen as far as it seems, Connolly reasons, Wieters would combine with Welington Castillo to form a strong backstop duo. Both could also spend some time at DH, perhaps along with a variety of other players that could rotate through that slot.
- It seems that the Athletics are set to utilize Jed Lowrie as their regular option at second, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports on Twitter. Manager Bob Melvin says it’s Lowrie’s job so long as he’s healthy. Oakland has received positive indications on Lowrie’s recovery from foot surgery. The 32-year-old will also be looking to bounce back from a tepid year at the plate.
- The Rays haven’t yet announced the signing of outfielder Colby Rasmus, but that’s not due to any issues with his physical, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). It’s not immediately clear what the holdup is, though it could simply be that the team is waiting to sort out a roster move before making it official.
I’ve always thought the Rangers would end up with Napoli and I still think they will but I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up going somewhere else on a two year deal with the second year being a option. I know he is bes suited for a AL team but I would be surprised if a NL team tried to get him at some point. Rockies maybe? Cardinals? I doubt it but you never know.
AL only, his defense has deteriorated so he needs to be where he can get 1B and DH at bats.
the Rays need him ,,,
No way razor can justify 10 million for Napoli
***the Rays
There’s nothing Jon Daniels hates more than a sure thing. If he holds true to form, he’ll pass on Napoli, experiment the first half of the season, and then trade away our prospects at the trade deadline to get somebody he could have gotten as a free agent over the winter. Never does his job in the off-season.
Cool, you should take his job then… Because it’s not like we could have signed anyone like Lucroy or Beltran last season and it’s not like they had the money. They also definitely haven’t been doing well for the last 8 years. JD clearly sucks at his job, you should be the new GM
Fielder (no physical); Shoo; trying to turn Feliz from a closer into a starter over Nolan Ryan’s objection and then running Nolan Ryan had of the organization. You’re right, the guy is brilliant.
It’s called a budget. It’s not as simple as you make it seem. He has superiors to answer to.
If Napoli would settle for a 1 year contract, he’d already be a Ranger. They have no interest in him longer than that, nor should they. I’d rather have Profar at 1B for 2 years than Napoli. It’s time to give him the shot to see if he can play in the bigs.
Like to see Gallo given a bit more of a chance, but this team, just like Houston and maybe Seattle will be in it for the west ntitle and not sure how much of a chance he’ll get. Maybe if he was on some 2nd division team there would be more of a chance for growing pains, like Bird in new york needs. both have big holes in the swing that think MLB pitching needs to cure with little left in the minors that can fix now.
Gallo hole is allot bigger then Birds. Bird makes much more contact.
Gallo holes? don’t they have those at truck stops?
The Cubs never has given any kind of shot any team with a GM knows this kid can hit, run, field you get it but he was a Henry guy Theo puppets ain’t going to give him a shot he is better than Jon Jay or Almora in CF -So why don’t anyone give Szur a fair shot.? Where the smart GM’s . I bet he won’t cost any of anyone kids. A’s ,Cleveland, Reds he plays all 3 of spots./Gallo for Scur and one of are 2A pitching prospect.
Then sign party at Napoli for 2 years for god sake a 109 RBI’s defense in the WS he looked great Cubs bring Gallo he would be ok learning from Kris Bryant was the same level once rangers make this happen Gallo aa top line PH and relief for Rizzo.
I’m fine with Napoli anywhere but Texas
As a rangers fan..
Who would you rather have as a 1B/DH because Choo and Hamilton are frail. Gallo needs more work as does Profar and I’m not sure Rua would do that great. Napoli is the best option left and he wouldn’t be expensive and wouldn’t cost more than 2 years
Agreed
I think a Rua/Gallo platoon at first base would actually work really well and the Rangers could then use Profar as a super utility player since he can play all infield positions, and can probably be worked out in the corner outfield spots during spring training.
Who knows Josh Hamilton could become his old self again and win the DH spot out of camp…. Highly unlikely though
You should be banned from commenting if you think there’s even a remote chance of that
I don’t know how the O’s would be able to fit Wieters when they already have Castillo and Davis at 1B and Trumbo at DH. There’s not much room for flexibility.
Not unless they commit to Trumbo in right which is scary. Also I don’t want Wieters at the expense of seeing what Mancini can do.
Be crazy if napoli ended up back with the angels, A team you wouldn’t expect him to go to. But I don’t think that would happen as long as scioscia is the manager.
Angels don’t need him. Period.
They have Cron, Pujols, Marte and now Valbuena (in any order) for 1B depth chart and certainly have no use for one more DH.
Unless Cron is traded for pitching at any point, Napoli would be a great add in their line up
The Angels are not fans of Napoli, especially Scioscia. Napoli as well has made it clear he is not a Scioscia fan. This being why they traded him away. Dude has way to much fun personality to be an Angel anyways. Party at Napoli’s!
I have a feeling Cron will be traded for pitching and a bullpen arm. I wonder what it would take to get Jake Odorizzi from the rays.
Market for trading Cron is terrible right now, so that’s a bad idea. That would involve selling very, very low.
Likewise, the cost of signing Napoli would take up the remaining payroll flexibility that Eppler has now: No Weiters, no FA RP.
Napoli brings nothing to an Angels team except memories to people who think back to when he was a difference-maker. He’s not that player any longer.
Why is that? Is there some history there?
That had more to do with the catching situation. Trading him was simply what was required to get Wells at the time. It is conceivable that they could deal Cron for cheap young pitching and sign Napoli to switch between 1B/DH with Albert.
that could work but Napoli and Scioscia getting along? I doubt that. Cron could get us one or two pitchers from the rays.
one or two pitchers from their single A team?
Again, bad idea. Rays already have a pre-FA 1B who hit them 30 HR last year. There is no perceived need for them to add Cron.
Additionally, Cron would need to have more years of team control to be interesting to a low budget operation like the Rays.
Mets need to be all over Weiters and time for Darnaud to move on. He can’t stay healthy and it’s proven he can’t throw anyone out.
I really think the angels are a perfect fit for Wieters , add his bat to the angels line up behind trout, pujols , and calhoun, It would look a lot deeper.
they should not give up a first round pick for him.
No QO attached to Wieters
Not a huge Weiters fan and his catching metrics don’t mesh with the direction Eppler is taking, but the market adjustment makes a deal more likely and a potent LH bat in lineup would balance nicely.
potent? He had a wRC+ of 88
In the context of recent and incumbent Angels catchers? Hell yes.
I’m looking at the .747 OPS last season of his hitting LH vs RHP. I don’t think that’s worth $25M annually over 4 years, but compared to the offense coming from Angels catchers the past few seasons, Weiters is Johnny Bench in his prime.
Again, I am not 100% sold on Weiters as a cog in the Angels machine. I think he profiles as a platoon player and that means the salary cost is important. But his ability to present a LH bat capable of XBH in a lineup heavily salted with RH bats has its appeal, as does his success last season throwing out base runners, in light of his TJ surgery.
Might want to include all of those qualifiers when saying he’s potent because at face value, he isn’t.
Weiters has not had a potent bat from either side in years. He is a washed up former star living on his name recognition who has severely overplayed his hand and value
White Sox on a one year deal for Weiters or even Rangers with him and Lucroy splitting at Catcher/DH.
I am a life long Os fan since 1969. My only citrine jersey is 32 Wieters!!! Praying he stays
You want him to stay or do you want to have a team trying to win
Braise need to sign Mike Napali and put Brad Miller at second base
Rays