Mike Napoli Reportedly Signs 1-Year Contract with Texas Rangers

Following a successful bounce-back season with the Cleveland Indians in 2016, Mike Napoli will reportedly reunite with the Texas Rangers for 2017.

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reported Napoli inked a one-year contract with the Rangers, with an official announcement pending. Earlier, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported Napoli and the Rangers were "progressing" in contract talks.

Napoli has been waiting to find a deal all winter. He was one of several free agents who are primarily first basemen and/or designated hitters with power, including Edwin Encarnacion, Mark Trumbo and Chris Carter, leading to a slow-developing market for many of them.

Napoli had been connected to the Rangers throughout the offseason, and Sullivan previously reported on Dec. 23 that the defending American League West champions were a "strong possibility" for the 35-year-old.

Napoli signed a one-year deal with the Indians last year. He set career highs in games played (150), home runs (34) and RBI (101) as he helped lead Cleveland to its first World Series appearance since 1997. 

The Indians signed Encarnacion earlier this offseason, ensuring Napoli would not return in 2017. 

Napoli is familiar with the Rangers. He had two different stints with the team, including from 2011 to 2012 and during the 2015 season, when he was acquired in an August trade with the Boston Red Sox. 

The Rangers need to make some kind of move after watching the Houston Astros add Josh Reddick, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann. Napoli would be a safe low-cost option for a team that doesn't have many holes to fill if it wants to repeat as American League West champions.