Rangers closing in on deal with Napoli

Mike Napoli and the Texas Rangers are working toward another reunion, this time to fill pressing needs the AL West champions have for a first baseman and another big bat in the middle of the lineup.

The slugger and the team have been negotiating a contract, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Texas general manager Jon Daniels didn’t respond to messages.

The AL West champion Rangers would have to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for Napoli, which means a deal may not be finalized until after spring training opens.

Napoli hit a career-high 34 homers last year in his only season with Cleveland, where he signed as a free agent after spending the final two months of the 2015 season in Texas.

Mitch Moreland won a Gold Glove as the Rangers’ primary first baseman last season, but became a free agent and agreed to a $5.5-million, one-year deal with Boston. Prince Fielder was forced to quit playing last summer after his second neck surgery.

In his first season with the Rangers in 2011, Napoli hit .320 with 30 homers in 113 regularseason games and had 10 RBIs in the World Series. He was the starting catcher for the AL allstar team in 2012, though he also played first base during that twoyear span in Texas before going to the Red Sox in free agency.

The Rangers reacquired Napoli in a trade from Boston in August 2015, and he ended the season with them starting 11 games at first base, 11 in left field and one more as the designated hitter. A free agent again after that season, Napoli signed with the Indians.

Fielder has a contract through 2020, so he has to remain on the roster. He can be shifted to the 60-day DL and no longer count against the 40-man limit once spring training opens.

Yankees get Carter

Chris Carter, who tied for the National League home run lead last season, agreed to a $3.5-million US, one-year contract with the New York Yankees.

The deal, which is subject to a successful physical, includes a $500,000 signing bonus, a $3-million salary and $500,000 in performance bonuses: $100,000 each for 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 plate appearances.

Carter, whose career-high 41 home runs last season matched Colorado’s Nolan Arenado for tops in the NL, became a free agent in December when Milwaukee failed to offer a 2017 contract.