Although catcher-first baseman Mike Napoli is under team control through 2012, he isn’t too sure if he’ll be with the team next season, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

Napoli said, “It could go either way; I’d say it’s 50-50.”

“I want to play every day,” Napoli continued. “I feel I could potentially help the team a lot by being in there every day. I just like to play. … I’m not in there again today.”

Napoli was almost traded to the Boston Red Sox on Monday, but the two teams could not come to an agreement after the Sox made a waiver claim on Napoli.

The Angels home run leader is clearly frustrated by his lack of playing time. “Yeah,” said Napoli, who shares catching duties with Jeff Mathis and the first base job with Juan Rivera. “I’m having one of the best years of my career, and I’m not playing much. I guess I don’t get it done on the defensive side. I have to clean things up.”

Despite leading the team in home runs he also leads the team with 108 strikeouts (7th most in the American League).
“I’m an Angel now,” Napoli said. “I want to help this team. I love everyone in this clubhouse. I don’t want to go anywhere else. I want to play. If there are other teams that want to give me an opportunity, I will always do my best.”

With the crowded catcher and first base positions in Los Angeles, it’s likely that the Angels could move Napoli in the off-season. They shouldn’t close the book with Boston given the uncertainty of Victor Martinez re-signing with the team.