The Texas Rangers declined to offer catcher Mike Napoli a qualifying free agent offer of $13.3 million, which would of allowed the Rangers to receive a draft pick compensation if he left in free agency.
While the $13 million offer is a big step up from his $9.4 million contract of 2012 and the Rangers haven’t ruled out re-signing him, the chance of him leaving without getting any compensation would be a mistake.
While nothing is guaranteed, Napoli would most likely command a multi year contract most likely in the $10 million plus range and if he does leave, the Rangers get nothing.
Retaining Napoli would help to lessen the potential loss of Hamilton. Hamilton will only be back if the price and years are right. As a crowd favorite, retaining Napoli will bring a sense of continuity to the pitching staff as well.
In other catching news, the Rangers have recently claimed catch Konrad Schmidt off of waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks which provides a little more depth considering only Geovany Soto is under team control.
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