Rangers trade Francisco to Blue Jays for Napoli

By foxsports
Published

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Rangers have traded reliever Frank Francisco and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for catcher-first baseman Mike Napoli.

The deal Tuesday marked the second time in five days Napoli was traded, and sent him back to the AL West. Toronto acquired Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera from the Los Angeles Angels on Friday for outfielder Vernon Wells.

Napoli should provide some flexibility off the bench for the AL champion Rangers. He played 70 games at first base and 66 at catcher last season for the Angels.

Francisco began last season as the Texas closer but spent most of the season setting up AL rookie of the year Neftali Feliz. Francisco missed the last month of the season and the postseason with a muscle strain.