Rangers acquire Mike Napoli from Red Sox

The Red Sox have traded first baseman Mike Napoli and cash considerations to the Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to a major-league source. The deal was first reported by Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.

Napoli was slated to be the Red Sox' first baseman and was in the lineup tonight, though he was scratched minutes before first pitch.

Napoli, 33, has hit only .207/.307/.386 with thirteen homers so far this season, and was considered a candidate to be dealt before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline after drawing interest from the Pirates and other clubs. He was known to be placed on trade waivers by the Red Sox earlier this week, and will head back to Texas after spending two and a half seasons with Boston. He was a fan favorite in Beantown throughout his tenure, helping lead the team to a World Series championship in 2013 while hitting .259 with 23 home runs and 92 RBI that season.

Napoli joins a crowded first base mix in Arlington, with Mitch Moreland and Prince Fielder among the other options in play for Texas. The veteran hit .275/.379/.552 with 54 home runs in two years as a Ranger in 2011 and 2012, and will hit free agency for the second time in his career after the season.

The addition of Napoli continues a pattern of aggressive buying by a Rangers' organization that has acquired Josh Hamilton and Cole Hamels so far this season. Texas currently sits just 2.5 games out of the AL Wild Card hunt, and is considered one of the favorites in the AL West next season once Yu Darvish returns from injury.