According to beat writer T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Rangers are no longer aiming to work out a long-term contract extension this winter with catcher Mike Napoli. Here’s general manager Jon Daniels:
“We love Mike and we’re not closing the door on anything but right now we are focused on a one-year deal.”
Napoli is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility and will hit the free agent market with a bang next fall if the two sides fail to work out a long-term deal at some point during the 2012 campaign.
The 30-year-old catcher batted .320/.414/.631 with 30 home runs and 75 RBI in 113 regular season games last year for Texas before going 19-for-58 (.328) with three homers and 15 RBI in the playoffs.