The Angels roster overhaul, as they look toward 2011, might take another turn soon, as Mike Napoli has been reportedly claimed off waivers. Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com reported the news Saturday night:
One major league source told FOXSports.com that Napoli was claimed on trade waivers. The Angels have until Monday afternoon to work out a deal with the claiming club.
Although the claiming club is yet unknown, the Angels also have the option of pulling back Napoli off waivers, which would mean they couldn't trade him until after the season. The Angels, if they so choose, can simply let the claiming team have Napoli, leaving the new team responsible for the roughly $650,000 remaining on his salary this season, although that is unlikely since the demand for Napoli's bat is high enough to command a return of some sort to the Angels.
The 28-year old Napoli was drafted by the Angels in 2000, and has hit 20 or more home runs in each of the last three seasons. This season, he has split time between catcher and first base. Napoli, who had never played first base before this season, has started 46 of 79 Angel games since Kendry Morales broke his ankle on May 29.
Napoli is making $3.6 million this season, and is arbitration eligible for two more seasons, through 2012.