AL West News: Rangers decline club option on Napoli

The Rangers have informed Mike Napoli that they won’t be picking up his club option for 2018, as reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Instead, the Rangers will give Napoli a $2.5M buyout and send him on his way.

The soon to be 36-year old slashed an anemic .193/.285/.428 this year, leaving very little fans shocked that Texas would part with the first baseman. While Napoli still maintains a lot of his power, it’s all a waste if he can’t make considerable contact.

Given that Texas has the flexibility to replace Napoli at first base with Joey Gallo, it makes sense they’d want to get rid of his salary and open up more payroll room. There’s also the option of moving that cash to one of the many first basemen who will also be loose on the market this winter, such as Eric Hosmer or Yonder Alonso. The three-time Ranger is now set to hit the open market and would still be a viable option for a team looking for a decent bat to have on reserve. Being a force of nature in the clubhouse, Napoli would be a great morale booster if nothing else, but it also a low risk/high reward move.

So uh...goodbye party at Napoli’s?

Here’s what other news and rumors floating around the American League West:

• Yu Darvish has a tricky but possible fit with the Mariners.
• Imagining the effects of a drastic realignment and what that would do to the Athletics.
• Sam Wolff is out for the Rangers until the second half 2018.
• Astros bench coach Alex Cora to interview for the Red Sox managerial opening.
• Here are the Angels’ projected arbitration salaries for 2018.
• Will they be here in March? Ranking the Mariners by roster security.
• The Athletics face big offseason decisions in arbitration.
• For the Angels this offseason, Mike Moustakas lore far outpaces his on-field contributions.