Rangers aquire Carlos Lee from Brewers

untStein · July 28, 2006

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have acquired the big bat they were looking for in the middle of their lineup, acquiring outfielder Carlos Lee from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Now they may need help for their bullpen after having to include right-handed setup reliever Francisco Cordero in the six-player deal.

The Rangers announced Friday that they have acquired Lee and Minor League outfielder Nelson Cruz from the Milwaukee Brewers for Cordero, outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix and pitcher Julian Cordero.

A two-time All-Star, Lee is hitting .286 with 28 home runs and 81 RBIs for the Brewers. He has struck out just 39 times in 388 at-bats and has stolen 12 bases.

He hit a career-high 32 home runs with 114 RBIs last season as the Brewers MVP and has played in 275 consecutive games, the fifth-longest active streak in the Major Leagues.

He'll likely spend much of his time as the Rangers designated hitter while Cruz could be the team's right fielder of the future.

"Carlos was at the top of our list of impact players we could add at this time," Rangers GM Jon Daniels said. "He gives us that big bat in the middle of the lineup we needed, a different presence, a different dimension that we were missing. He's a strong makeup guy from everything we've heard and he'll add a different presence to our clubhouse as well."

Lee can also be a free agent after the season and is reportedly looking for a five-year deal at around $10-12 million annually. One benchmark could be the five-year, $60 million contract that first baseman Paul Konerko signed with the Chicago White Sox last offseason.

But Mench and Cordero combined would likely have made around $9-10 million next season and moving that money could give the Rangers the financial flexibility to get something done with Lee.

"Obviously, we knew going in that he can be a free agent," Daniels said. "He wouldn't be available otherwise. At the appropriate time, we'll talk to Carlos and his agent [Adam Katz] about a deal that would make sense to keep him here. We made it clear to Adam that we made this deal to sign him and keep him. It's a risk, but we knew that going in. We made this deal with our eyes wide open."

The Rangers may not be done as Monday's non-waiver deadline approaches. Daniels' No. 1 priority is still to acquire starting pitching.

"That continues to be something that we're trying to address externally," Daniels said. "There's nothing pending, but it's something we're looking at."

Cordero was an All-Star for the Rangers as their closer in 2004 but lost his job this season when he was replaced by Akinori Otsuka at the end of April. He was effective as a setup reliever until giving up four runs in the eighth inning of an 8-7 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday.

The Rangers are calling up right-hander Josh Rupe to replace Cordero, although not necessarily in the eighth-inning role. Rick Bauer is expected to assume that role, but the Rangers are looking at the trade market for possible help. Roberto Hernandez is a name that has been brought up in the past.

"We're going to continue to look to improve the club any way we can," Daniels said. "The bullpen has been a strength for us all year and taking Cordero out of it is something we'll have to address. We do feel we have some quality internal candidates to fill the void."

Cruz, 26, is a key to the deal, a five-tool player who has a chance to be the Rangers everyday right fielder next season. Scouts compare him to Juan Encarnacion and Jose Guillen with a power bat and an extremely strong arm. His biggest challenge is to hit the breaking ball.

"We really like him," Daniels said. "He's an athletic outfielder who is starting to put it together and perform, a five-tool guy who could be our right fielder for some time."

complete coverage >Cruz is batting .302 with 22 doubles, 20 home runs, 73 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 104 games at Triple-A Nashville. The 20 home runs are tied for second in the Pacific Coast League while the 73 RBIs are tied for fourth in the league.

He was named Brewers Minor League Player of the Year last season, combining to bat .289 with 27 home runs, 81 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 128 games at Double-A Huntsville and Nashville.

"It should be one of those trades that helps both clubs," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "Lee's a solid three or four hitter in the lineup. He's still young, has great makeup and a low strikeout total. That's hard to find these days. We also like Nelson Cruz in the deal."

Mench is hitting .284 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs, but the Rangers like the idea of adding Lee right now and having Cruz as their right fielder next year.

Nix was hitting .269 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 77 games for Triple-A Oklahoma after starting the season with the Rangers. Cordero, 21, was 2-5 with a 2.77 ERA at Class A Clinton.

MeanGreenBuzz · July 28, 2006

This is a good trade for us. Cordero has never been a consistant closer and with Otsuka in that spot now I feel alot better. As for Mench and Nix, Mench got himself on Buck's @#$% list a couple years back and ever since then its just been a matter of time and Nix never developed into the outfielder we had hoped. I would definately take 1 all-star player for 3 players that never lived up to expectations.

untgirl04 · July 31, 2006

This is a good trade for us. Cordero has never been a consistant closer and with Otsuka in that spot now I feel alot better. As for Mench and Nix, Mench got himself on Buck's @#$% list a couple years back and ever since then its just been a matter of time and Nix never developed into the outfielder we had hoped. I would definately take 1 all-star player for 3 players that never lived up to expectations.
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Completely disagree. While Carlos Lee is a great player, he's not pitching, and that's what the Rangers desperately need. Historically, the Rangers' pitchers lose steam in September, when it counts the most. You don't give up your setup man and a top prospect for another outfielder.

As for Mench and Nix... Mench is streaky, true. But he's a dugout favorite and you have to consider team chemistry. The team wasn't happy when JD traded Deluchi right before the seasons started. And on his first night as a Brewer, Mench had 4 RBIs. I don't think you can talk about his lack of hitting power. I'm not sure what sh*t list of Buck's you're talking about. I don't recall Mench doing anything to substantially tick off Buck.

As for Nix, it's not true that he wasn't the outfielder they wanted. It's just that Gary Matthews Junior has been tearing it up. Nix was perfectly fine as the centerfielder until he got injured, and when GMJ took his place, GMJ just has been lights out. You shouldn't move someone from the roster when they're playing well. I think although I hate to see Laynce gone, it's a good trade for him because until GMJ is injured or starts a slump, Nix isn't going to get any playing time. Nix needs to get out there and make a name for himself in the national media in order to further his career.

Overall, I think only time will tell on this trade. I think it was stupid because we didn't get any pitching out the deal and got a few more outfielders, of which the Rangers are historically heavy with. I've heard rumor Blalock is on the block, and if that's the case, JD is absolutely nuts.

MeanGreenBuzz · July 31, 2006

So far so good on Carlos Lee. While I agree we shouldn't give up pitching trading Cordero now is better than trading him in the future. His career is headed down and it will only be a few years before he will be of marginal value or out of the league entirely.

On Mench and Nix don't get me wrong I liked them both, but Nix was not developing into the hitter we saw flashes of in previous seasons though his defensive ability could not be denied. Mench had alot going for him in the clubhouse but he was never one of Buck's boys, i.e. Rod Barajas and some other players Buck keeps bringing back. I remember an incident where Mench got into it with Buck his 2nd year in the league and Buck promptly sent him to the minors and he had to work his butt off to get back. Since then I think Buck has just been biding his time until Mench was gone. Mench can hit... sometimes. Look at his streak at the beginning of the season, but after that he went a monthish without a home run and his average dropped significantly.

Like you said only time will tell but I think we got the better deal for this season but if we can't resign Lee then its kind of a moot point after that.

On another trade... WTH was JD thinking trading Corey for a guy that hasn't been able to get out of the minors for 5 years?

July 31, 2006

Completely disagree. While Carlos Lee is a great player, he's not pitching, and that's what the Rangers desperately need. Historically, the Rangers' pitchers lose steam in September, when it counts the most. You don't give up your setup man and a top prospect for another outfielder.
As for Mench and Nix... Mench is streaky, true. But he's a dugout favorite and you have to consider team chemistry. The team wasn't happy when JD traded Deluchi right before the seasons started. And on his first night as a Brewer, Mench had 4 RBIs. I don't think you can talk about his lack of hitting power. I'm not sure what sh*t list of Buck's you're talking about. I don't recall Mench doing anything to substantially tick off Buck.
As for Nix, it's not true that he wasn't the outfielder they wanted. It's just that Gary Matthews Junior has been tearing it up. Nix was perfectly fine as the centerfielder until he got injured, and when GMJ took his place, GMJ just has been lights out. You shouldn't move someone from the roster when they're playing well. I think although I hate to see Laynce gone, it's a good trade for him because until GMJ is injured or starts a slump, Nix isn't going to get any playing time. Nix needs to get out there and make a name for himself in the national media in order to further his career.
Overall, I think only time will tell on this trade. I think it was stupid because we didn't get any pitching out the deal and got a few more outfielders, of which the Rangers are historically heavy with. I've heard rumor Blalock is on the block, and if that's the case, JD is absolutely nuts.
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First, the Rangers didn't really give up a top prospect. In fact, they got the Brewer's top OF prospect and one of the best OF prospects in the minor leagues. Cruz is a 5 tool player and will have a chance to be the every day RF next season and into the future. So the Rangers definitely made out better in respects to prospects.

Next, you're right, team chemistry must be considered. Buck Showalter, for whatever reason, does not like Mench and has not given him consistent playing time. Was it right? Probably not, but that's the way it is, and now that is no longer a worry or issue in the clubhouse.

Nix was just not the player the Rangers thought he would be at this point and he will not get any playing time in the forseeable future. Also, he has been in AAA since starting the season horribly.

I think this was a great trade because we got an All-Star power hitter and an elite prospect in return for a lesser prospect, a guy the manager doesn't like and doesn't get any consistent at bats and a AAA OFer. And I'm not sure what you are talking about when you say the Rangers are historically heavy with OFers. The Rangers haven't had above average OFers in ages. I think I heard a stat recently that the last 30HR/100RBI OFer the Rangers had was Juan Gonzalez. That's going pretty far back.

Now, the Rangers need to make sure and get Lee signed.

BTW, the Rangers traded for Kip Wells today. Pretty good pick up IMO. Trading for Wells and getting Eaton back from the DL improves the lineup substantially. Still not great, but with an improved lineup and with Lee in the lineup providing the power that has been absent this year I think the Rangers have a great chance to make a move.

MeanGreenBuzz · August 1, 2006

BTW, the Rangers traded for Kip Wells today. Pretty good pick up IMO. Trading for Wells and getting Eaton back from the DL improves the lineup substantially. Still not great, but with an improved lineup and with Lee in the lineup providing the power that has been absent this year I think the Rangers have a great chance to make a move.
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Good to hear. Kip Wells is by no means a top starter but he definately fills a hole in that 3-4-5 slot.

MeanGreenBuzz · August 1, 2006

On top of that we got Matt Stairs. Now that is a good pickup. Stairs is a veteran hitter and has always had a good attitude and is a team leader.

FirefightnRick · August 1, 2006

So how many games out of 1st place will the Rangers finish this season? 15? Possibly. I say they can hit 20 if they try real hard.

Rick

gksmith · August 1, 2006

With the pickup of the pitcher Wells and 1B/DH Stairs, this may help the Rangers down the run.

Interesting observation though. On the Rangers website, you can look at each player and the results and BA over the last 10 games. Except for the recent arrivals this last week, only Young and Tex were hitting above their season average for that span. Everyone else was way below average. The pitchers have the same statistical history. Almost all of the pitchers had worse ERAs over the last 10 games and many with losing records.

To me this does not bode well for a strong finish.

I'm not writing off the season yet. Too much time left. But the Rangers can't afford to be slumping now and can not recover from falling back 5-10 games.

MeanGreenBuzz · August 1, 2006

The Rangers historically fall apart every season after the all-star break... its the complete opposite of the Yankees.

UNTLifer · August 1, 2006

The best move would be to get rid of Showalter. As stated earlier in this thread, he plays his favorites, Barajas, over more deserving players, Laird and has never develop young players very well.

gksmith · August 2, 2006

The best move would be to get rid of Showalter. As stated earlier in this thread, he plays his favorites, Barajas, over more deserving players, Laird and has never develop young players very well.
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Barajas has gotten less playing time because he is slumping. Laird is atleast hitting his weight lately.

UNTLifer · August 2, 2006

Barajas has gotten less playing time because he is slumping. Laird is atleast hitting his weight lately.
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Laird is hitting .350+ and has always been better than Barajas.

utamav91 · August 9, 2006

Unfortunately, I think Rangers are done for the year. A mediocre team in a bad division. Probably 86 wins takes the division.

Problem is, they're more than just 1 player away from being a contender, but not bad enough to start another youth movement and rebuild like Detroit, Minnesota, KC, or even the Angels who play a lot of young guys. Kinda in the middle, which makes it tough.

I'd give anyone that has a good August in OKC a ton of innings on the mound in September in Arlington.

Edited August 9, 2006 by utamav91