DETROIT (AP) — Mike Napoli is headed back to the Texas Rangers.

The first baseman was traded Friday by the Red Sox to the Rangers for a player to be named or cash. Boston also sends money to Texas as part of the deal, which came a week after baseball’s deadline for trading players without placing them on waivers.

Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli, right, was traded Friday to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash.
Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli, right, was traded Friday to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash. AP photo

Minutes before the first pitch of Boston’s game against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, Napoli was removed from the lineup. He batted .207 with 13 homers and 40 RBIs in 98 games for the last-place Red Sox this year and can become a free agent after the season.

Napoli, 33, was a fan favorite during two productive years with Texas before signing with the Red Sox and helping them win the 2013 World Series.

He batted .320 with a career-high 30 homers as the Rangers won their second consecutive American League pennant in 2011. He hit .350 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in the World Series loss to St. Louis.

The following season, Napoli had 24 homers in 108 games and was the AL’s starting catcher in the All-Star Game.

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