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The Rangers have agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million deal with Mike Napoli, as first reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The deal includes an $11 million option (or $2.5 million buyout) for 2018.
Napoli with #Rangers: One year, $8.5M guaranteed. Salary for 2017: $6M. Club option for ’18: $11M or $2.5M buyout.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 15, 2017
Texas has been the leader to sign Napoli since late December, when Edwin Encarnacion took the first base spot in Cleveland. Though Napoli was originally said to be looking for a three-year deal on the open market, the Rangers only expressed a willingness to guarantee a one-year deal due to the younger options (Ryan Rua, Joey Gallo and Jurickson Profar) that the club could plug in at first.
Napoli, 35, hit .239/.335/.465 with 34 homers and 101 RBI for Cleveland last season after spending 35 games with Texas during a second stint with the club in 2015. Nap spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons with the Rangers, and made his only All-Star appearance in 2012.