DETROIT, Michigan — First baseman Mike Napoli was yanked from Boston’s starting lineup just moments prior to the Red Sox game in Detroit on Friday night and traded back to the Texas Rangers, for whom he hit 54 home runs and drove in 131 runs during the 2011-12 seasons.
Texas received an undisclosed amount of money in the deal to help pay some of Napoli’s $16 million salary.
Boston will receive a player to be named later as part of the deal.
Napoli, who underwent surgery in the offseason to alleviate a sleep apnea condition, was hitting .207 with 13 home runs, 40 RBIs and a .386 slugging percentage in 98 games for the Red Sox. His contract expires at the end of this season.
A 10-year major league veteran, he has a .253 career average with 199 homers, 567 RBIs and a .481 slugging percentage.
Napoli was a pivotal member of the Red Sox’s World Series championship team in 2013, his first year with the team. He hit .259, with 23 home runs, 92 RBIs and a .482 slugging percentage.
The Rangers are in the playoff race as they were 54-53 (.505) entering Friday night’s game, trailing American League West leader Houston by five games.
Napoli played his first five MLB seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
He was placed on revocable waivers earlier this week along with utilityman Brock Holt, right fielder Rusney Castillo, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and pitchers Craig Breslow.
On Thursday night, Holt, who has also been slumping, was benched after being among the more consistent performers in an otherwise disappointing season for the Red Sox.
As of late, the consistently positive results have slowed down for Holt.
Although his .277 average entering Friday night’s game is among the highest for the Red Sox, it’s been a recent struggle for Holt. He was batting .306 through June 24 but since then he is hitting .233 (28-for-120) with 26 singles and two doubles.
On Thursday night, Holt had a rest from starting and potentially extending his hitless drought beyond 14 at-bats.
“He’s been pitched to,” Boston manager John Farrell said before a 2-1 loss to the Yankees. “He’s seen a lot of off-speed early in the count. Right-handers have been attacking him down and in. There has been a long stretch of games in which his bat path might not be as consistent. Like any player, he needs a break now and then.”
With Holt getting a break, Josh Rutledge received his first start at second base since being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for right fielder Shane Victorino.
His night began with a diving stop of Yankee left fielder Brett Gardner’s ground ball and an accurate throw to get the second out of the first inning. After striking out for the final out of the second, he ranged to his left to get third baseman Chase Headley’s ground ball for the first out of the bottom half.
Rutledge also struck out with one out in the fifth off CC Sabathia and again in the seventh off Justin Wilson. When he turn came up for a fourth time against a third left-hander, Travis Shaw pinch hit and got a single off Andrew Miller.
The Yankees beat the Red Sox 2-1 on Jacoby Ellsbury’s seventh inning solo homer.
Thursday was likely a cameo appearance for Rutledge since the team is waiting for Dustin Pedroia to return from a second hamstring injury. He could get slightly more time on the off chance Holt gets traded.