Napoli traded to Rangers

[love_that_reefer]

Blue Jays acquired RHP Frank Francisco and cash considerations from the Rangers for C Mike Napoli.
Francisco should have no trouble beating out Octavio Dotel and Jon Rauch for the Jays' ninth inning gig this spring. He still has a fastball with good life and he posted a strong 3.76 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 56 appearances last season. The 31-year-old righty was eligible for arbitration this winter and his salary for 2011 has not yet been figured out. He requested $4.875 million and was offered $3.5 million when figures were exchanged last week.

Great move by the Jays!! Napoli was expendable as he really never fit in anywhere and the Jays need to add to that bullpen. AA is definitely having a good offseason.

[Kingdom]

Good major league deal for both. Not that either player is that good but they fill needs. Jays going to move Rivera now?

[DirtyKash]

Jays now have a half decent bullpen with Dotel, Rauch, Frasor and the black version of Frasor (Frank Francisco). Not awful.

[Impossibles]

Odd move, very hard to understand why'd they move him and not move Encarnacion instead. I was thinking Napoli could mash 30+ homers playing everyday in that lineup.

I guess AA thinks guys with closer experience can bring more back to the team either in trades or picking up draft picks if they sign somewhere else.

[love_that_reefer]

Encarnacion wasn't going to get a Frank Francisco but you do bring up a good point. Francisco was a Type A and if he does well enough and signs somewhere after 2011, the Jays could get two picks.