Report: Twins offered Napoli more money than Rangers

Mike Napoli is reportedly on his way back to Texas for a third stint with the Rangers after agreeing to a one-year, $8.5-million deal, but they weren't his only suitor and one club in particular made a bigger offer he had to refuse.

Napoli rejected more money from the Minnesota Twins to return to the Rangers, according to major-league sources of Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, who writes Napoli was more interested in playing for a contender.

According to Rosenthal, Derek Falvey, the Twins' new executive vice president and chief baseball officer, valued what Napoli could bring both on and off the field as he tries to rebuild the organization with an emphasis on chemistry.

"Talent is an aspect of any decision we make," Falvey told Rosenthal. "But there is an element of clubhouse chemistry that also plays a role in organization-building. We’re going to talk about leadership, makeup, and how guys fit in our clubhouse along with how we feel they will perform."

Napoli's leadership is a known commodity throughout the majors, with the 35-year-old appearing in eight of the last 10 postseasons. He's also made three World Series appearances with three different clubs, and won a championship with the Boston Red Sox in 2013.

Napoli helped guide the Cleveland Indians within one game of capturing the World Series last season during a career year in which he hit 34 home runs and added 101 RBIs.

The Twins finished second in the AL Central in 2015 with veteran Torii Hunter leading the charge, but fell to the worst record in baseball (59-103) last season after Hunter announced his retirement.