Mike Napoli is bobbled over to Texas.

So, the weekend brought us the shocking Wells for JR and Napoli deal, and now we can be shocked once again. Andrew's Toronto Blue Jays (who are acting like they have a chance to finish better than third in the AL East, which they don't) have now shipped Mike Napoli off to Texas in exchange for reliever Frank Francisco. All of the analysis of the initial trade (including my very own post yesterday) doesn't matter anymore, and I'd guess that the Jays just did it to keep the guys at ESPN who photoshop the new hats on the player pictures on their toes. 

Mike Napoli seems to be ready to assume a bench role with the Rangers, but he has now joined the brotherhood of former Angels still playing in the AL West. The deal has me wondering: if I could have any of the former Angels still playing in the AL West back on the team, who would it be (hint: it's not Napoli).

Former Angels on the Mariners:

Chone Figgins
Casey Kotchman (currently FA)

Former Angels on the A's:

Brian Fuentes
Hideki Matsui

Former Angels on the Rangers:

Mike Napoli
Darren Oliver
Darren O'Day
Vlad Guerrero (currently FA)

You could almost field a team with the ex-Angels still hanging out within the division. It's easy to find some washed up guys: Matsui, Kotchman, Vlad, Fuentes, and (arguably) Figgins. It's easy to find some guys I don't like (which I can do, now that he's no longer an Angel): Napoli. That leaves me with two relief pitchers that I might want back. One is the aging lefty that seemed to find new life when he came to Anaheim. The other is a 28 year old Florida graduate who never really got much of a chance at the Big A. And, as I usually seem to do, I'm going with the youth.

If I could have one former Halo, still playing in the AL West, back on the team, it would be Darren O'Day. Just look at what he did last season for Texas:

6-2, 2.03 ERA, 72 games, 0.887 WHIP, 3.75 K/BB, and a 2.1 WAR, all while earning less than $427,000.

I know we've plugged some holes in our bullpen with Downs and Takahashi coming on board, but the more solid relievers we could have in the pen, the more games we'll win. With our offensive talents being questioned, and our starting rotation limited at the back end, the bullpen is going to make all the difference. With his numbers, O'Day (previously nicknamed DOD, to go along with another former Angel, SOS) has shown that he was a keeper, and we let him get away.

Enjoy Texas, Napoli. I wonder if Juan is glad you're back in the States. 

-- Sent from my Palm Prē