DETROIT –First baseman Mike Napoli was yanked from Boston’s starting lineup just moments prior to the Red Sox game in Detroit on Friday night and traded back to the Texas Rangers, for whom he hit 54 home runs and drove in 131 runs during the 2011-12 seasons.
Texas received an undisclosed amount of money in the deal to help pay some of Napoli’s $16 million salary. Bringing back Napoli gives the Rangers another left-handed bat in a lineup that leans heavily to the right.
Boston will receive a player to be named later as part of the deal.
Napoli, who underwent surgery in the offseason to alleviate a sleep apnea condition, was hitting .207 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs in 98 games for the Red Sox. His contract expires at the end of this season.
Napoli is a career .253 hitter who has played for the Los Angeles Angels, Texas and Boston in his career. He hit .275 during his two seasons with the Rangers.