Major League Baseball

Source: Deal for Napoli unlikely

Published Aug. 29, 2010 10:24 p.m. ET

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The Angels traded closer Brian Fuentes on Friday.

Could catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli be next?

The Red Sox have claimed Napoli on waivers, according to major-league sources. The Angels and Red Sox have until Monday afternoon to work out a deal, but a deal is unlikely, one source said.

Napoli’s salary figures to rise from $3.6 million this season to $5 million in his second year of arbitration, making him a potential non- tender candidate.

However, Napoli entered Sunday with the 10th-best home-run per at-bat rate in the American League, according to STATS LLC. Power is in short supply, and if the Angels wish to trade Napoli, they can involve more teams by waiting until the offseason.

Napoli, 28, leads the Angels in starts behind the plate this year, but he hasn’t caught regularly since Jeff Mathis returned from the disabled list in June. In fact, Napoli has seen much more playing time at first base than catcher since mid-June.

His playing time at first would diminish next season when Kendry Morales returns from a broken left leg. At catcher, the Angels have Bobby Wilson as a backup, and a top prospect, Hank Conger, at Triple A.

Napoli entered Sunday hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs in
113 games.
 

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