Rumor Roundup: Astros intrigued by Napoli

The Hot Stove season is underway, and we’re keeping you up to date with the latest free-agent news, trade buzz, rumors and more.

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Astros interested in Napoli The Astros are interested in free agent first baseman/designated hitter Mike Napoli, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

Napoli, who turned 35 at the end of October, hit .239/.335/.465 with a career-high 34 home runs and 101 RBIs for the American League champion Indians in 2016.

Houston has already made some significant moves this offseason, signing free agent catcher Brian McCann and right fielder Josh Reddick.

Currently, the Astros’ depth chart has Yulieski Gurriel at first base, with A.J. Reed seen as the future at the position but perhaps not ready for everyday action at the big league level. Gurriel may also play left field, however, if George Springer plays center, with Reddick in right.

Other teams that have shown interest in Napoli are the Indians and Mariners.

Blue Jays looking at Fowler, Eaton The Blue Jays are now looking for a left-handed-hitting leadoff man with a high on-base percentage, and free agent center fielder Dexter Fowler is one possibility, according to a report from MLB Network’s Jon Morosi on Friday.

Signing Fowler would more likely serve the Blue Jays as a replacement for potentially departing free agent outfielder Michael Saunders, rather than Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion.

Toronto could also look into acquiring White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton via trade, Morosi reports, as a different option besides Fowler.

Fowler put together an All-Star season for the Cubs in 2016, helping them win their first World Series since 1908. He hit .276 with 13 home runs, 13 steals and a .393 on-base percentage during the regular season and had several key hits in the postseason, including a leadoff home run in Game 7 of the World Series.

Across town, Eaton batted .284 for the White Sox this season with a .362 on-base percentage, as well as 14 homers, 14 stolen bases and an American League-leading nine triples, and he was one of the top defensive outfielders in the game.

Rays looking into Pearce reunion The Rays have expressed “serious interest” in a reunion with free-agent utility man Steve Pearce, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The Rays join at least two other clubs — the Blue Jays and Mets — in a bid for the 33-year-old Pearce, who signed a one-year, $4.75 million deal with Tampa Bay prior to the 2016 season, before being traded to the Orioles at the Trade Deadline.

Pearce hit .288/.374/.492 in 85 games last season, his 10th in the Majors. Before the trade to Baltimore, he hit .309/.388/.520 in 60 games for the Rays. Pearce had a career year with the Orioles in 2014, when he posted a .930 OPS with 21 home runs and 49 RBIs in 102 games.

Yankees looking at power hitters, including Encarnacion, Beltran The Yankees are pursuing several of the top designated hitters on the free-agent market, including Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Beltran, sources told MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman on Thursday.

The Yankees saved $11.5 million per year after dealing Brian McCann to the Astros Thursday afternoon and are looking for candidates to fill the void.

Heyman reports the Yankees have checked in on Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Bautista and Mark Trumbo in addition to Encarnacion and Beltran, who was traded from the Yankees to the Rangers on Aug. 1.

Beltran hit 22 homers with New York before hitting seven more with Texas in 2016. Encarnacion (42) finished behind only the Mariners’ Nelson Cruz (43) and Trumbo (47) for the Major League lead in home runs in 2016.

Dodgers working on deal for Kinsler? The Dodgers have emerged as a possible landing …

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