| 1 | SEATTLE (AP) -- Mike Napoli is headed back to Texas, where he played in a World Series before going on to win one with Boston. |
| 2 | The first baseman was traded Friday to the Rangers from the Red Sox for a player to be named or cash. |
| 3 | Boston also sent money to Texas as part of the deal, which came a week after baseball's deadline for trading players without placing them on waivers. |
| 4 | Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said reacquiring Napoli fills the team's need for a right-handed bat with power. |
| 5 | ''He is a guy who always hits lefties. |
| 6 | It's an area where we have struggled this year,'' Daniels said on a conference call Friday night. |
| 7 | ''He is a guy we know. |
| 8 | We know he's going to fit our culture. |
| 9 | Minutes before the first pitch of Boston's game at Detroit on Friday night, Napoli was removed from the lineup. |
| 10 | 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. |
| 11 | Napoli, 33, was a fan favorite during two productive years in Texas before signing with the Red Sox and helping them win the 2013 World Series. |
| 12 | He batted .320 with a career-high 30 homers as the Rangers won their second consecutive American League pennant in 2011. |
| 13 | He hit .350 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in the World Series loss to St. Louis. |
| 14 | The following season, Napoli had 24 homers in 108 games and was the AL's starting catcher in the All-Star Game. |
| 15 | With his return to Texas, Napoli is back in the playoff chase. |
| 16 | The Rangers (54-53) had won four straight entering Friday night's series opener in Seattle and were 2 1/2 games behind in the race for the second AL wild card. |
| 17 | Texas was 5 1/2 back of first-place Houston in the AL West. |
| 18 | ''This is really about 2015. |
| 19 | He fills a need for us,'' Daniels said. |
| 20 | Hoping to make a postseason push, the Rangers' front office has been aggressive lately. |
| 21 | Texas acquired ace lefty Cole Hamels and reliever Jake Diekman from Philadelphia at the trade deadline, plus reliever Sam Dyson from Miami. |
| 22 | While the three pitchers obtained last week are under contract or Rangers control for multiple seasons after this, Napoli is not. |
| 23 | Mitch Moreland started his 70th game at first base Friday night, while Prince Fielder was the designated hitter for the 90th time, along with his 15 starts at first base. |
| 24 | They were among five left-handed batters in the lineup against the Mariners. |
| 25 | Napoli is expected to join the club Saturday, when the Rangers are set to face Seattle lefty Mike Montgomery. |
| 26 | Daniels said the initial plan is for Napoli to be the DH or first baseman against left-handers, and only be used as an emergency third catcher, similar to the role he has had with the Red Sox. |
| 27 | The Rangers were hitting just .238 against left-handed pitching, ranking 24th in the majors. |
| 28 | That's been one of Napoli's strengths in the past, but he's batting only .229 against lefties this season. |
| 29 | Before this year, Napoli was a .279 hitter in his career against left-handers. |
| 30 | Texas transferred Kyle Blanks to the 60-day disabled list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. |
| 31 | The Rangers will need to make another move to open a spot on the 25-man roster when Napoli arrives. |
| 32 | AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Arlington, Texas, and freelance writer Scott Held in Detroit contributed to this report. |