Cliff Lee Traded to Texas Rangers
cliff leeThe Texas Rangers were bystanders for the playoffs in the first decade of the 2000s, but they are intent on returning this season, bankruptcy court or not. That became apparent on Friday, when the Rangers traded for the All-Star left-hander Cliff Lee, who had seemed to be headed to the Yankees.
The Mariners had coveted first baseman Justin Smoak for weeks, but until Friday, the A.L. West-leading Rangers would not part with him. Seattle turned to the Yankees, and according to an official involved in the talks, the teams had all but agreed on a package of catcher Jesus Montero and infielder David Adams for Lee. The official was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about internal trade talks.
When the Mariners raised concerns about Adams’s ankle injury, the Yankees agreed to include a minor league pitcher. At that point, it was up to the Mariners to agree to the trade, and the Yankees were privately optimistic. The Rangers then agreed to include Smoak, a switch-hitter with power, and the Mariners jumped at him.
“Cliff was the No. 1 guy on our board that we wanted to acquire,” Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels said at a news conference in Arlington, Tex. “There was a lot of dialogue the last few weeks. There’s been a sense of urgency all along. Cliff adds an element to our club we haven’t had in some time.”
The Mariners will also receive the minor leaguers Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matt Lawson, while the Rangers will also receive reliever Mark Lowe. Chris Davis will be called up from the minors to play first base for the Rangers.
Because Lee is owed about $4 million for the rest of this season, the Rangers are believed to have received $2.5 million from Seattle. The Rangers are in bankruptcy court, and the portion of Lee’s salary they will pay had to fall within their existing budget.
“We were not in a position where we had to exceed budget, so it wasn’t an issue,” Daniels said.
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