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Breaking News Cliff-diving in North Texas

The Texas Rangers have ... an ace lefty? Heavens to Kenny Rogers! Welcome to Arlington, Cliff Lee!

Here's the story on ESPN.com. And a few thoughts from this Ranger neighbor ...



Ironically, the first time Lee will wear his new uniform to the mound might be in the upcoming All-Star Game, though rumor has it he may start against Baltimore tomorrow, too. (He was scheduled to go tonight for Seattle against the Yankees.)

Cutting in line in front of a Yankee team that frothed at the mouth imagining a star-studded rotation including Lee, Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes to offset the disappointment that has been AJ Burnett, the Rangers heisted Lee from Seattle for a package fronted by 1B power prospect Justin Smoak.

Locals in North Texas are thrilled the deal also includes reliever Mark Lowe, a graduate of the nearby University of Texas-Arlington, but are disappointed that the #2 prospect in the four-player package headed to Seattle is pitcher Blake Beaven, a native of just-as-close-by Irving, Texas.

Thoughts, Bauxites?

Posted by Mick Doherty on Friday, July 09 2010 @ 07:35 PM EDT.
Cliff-diving in North Texas | 16 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Mick Doherty - Friday, July 09 2010 @ 08:05 PM EDT (#218115) #

Interesting poll on the hometown newspaper Web site, dallasnews.com, asks the question, "Did the Rangers give up too much for Cliff Lee?" Ranger nation is pretty prospect-savvy, sometimes to a fault (in part because of the excellent work of Friend of Box Jamey Newberg and former Bauxite Scott Lucas) so I thought this might go the other way, but only 22% of early respondents to this Yes-or-No poll have said "Yes."

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scottt - Friday, July 09 2010 @ 08:43 PM EDT (#218116) #
This might open up a spot for trading Overbay to the Rangers. The Jays would have to eat all of Overbay's salary though since the Rangers are  just about broke. Wishful thinking?

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Mick Doherty - Friday, July 09 2010 @ 09:30 PM EDT (#218117) #
scottt, yeah, I think that is wishful thinking --  it's just shy of a miracle that ThisBud'sForYou and MLB allowed the Rangers to take on even partial extra salary with Lee's remaining contract. They've already called up Chris Davis to play 1B and he was hitting .340ish with power at OKC. Sure, that's Joaquin Arias at 1B tonight , but that's definitely a short-term, l ike one game!, fix.
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Mick Doherty - Friday, July 09 2010 @ 09:43 PM EDT (#218118) #
Then again, a straight salary swap landing Canadian local boy Rich Harden in Toronto? How's that sound?
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greenfrog - Friday, July 09 2010 @ 10:16 PM EDT (#218120) #
Good trade for Texas. They needed an ace to become legit WS contenders, and Lee really has been outstanding over the last two or three years. The team still has some question marks, though.
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katman - Friday, July 09 2010 @ 10:27 PM EDT (#218123) #
It seems like the Mariners got a lot for Lee. Bauxites, what do you think?
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PeteMoss - Friday, July 09 2010 @ 11:30 PM EDT (#218125) #
Main concern for me if I was the Mariners is combination of Smoak's lack of power so far as a pro and Safeco field. He could end up as a Lyle Overbay type guy, which obviously has value but not a big star who you build around.
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Thomas - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 01:19 AM EDT (#218126) #
I wonder what Ruben Amaro has been thinking to himself for the last few hours.
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92-93 - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 01:22 AM EDT (#218127) #

That's a tad harsh when you consider Smoak is 23 and has an ISOP of .144, with an equal # of HRs on the road as at home despite 10 less games away from the friendly confines of The Ballpark.

I love what the Ms did here, strengthening themselves while weakening a division rival for the immediate (non-2010) future in the process, because there's no way Lee is staying in Texas. Even if Smoak's bat isn't as good as Montero's it's probably safe to assume the rest of the package was a lot better than the Yankees were offering, and I wonder if this Lee trade is going to turn out to be the Rangers' version of the Teixeria trade in which they made out like bandits from the guys who didn't headline the trade.

I think this trade proves that Ruben Amaro isn't very bright and is destroying everything Gillick put together in PHI - his resume now includes the Ibanez signing, waiting half a season too long to acquire Halladay, trading Lee for a ridiculous package (instead of trading Blanton, if $ was the issue), and an ill-advised contract extension for Howard in which they received no discount. Let's see if AA can take advantage of him and pick up some worthwhile pieces for some bullpen help, or maybe even Buck & Gonzalez if there are long term concerns about Utley & Ruiz.

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TamRa - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 01:33 AM EDT (#218129) #
I do have to say that I had my concerns about Amaro from the day i heard about the Ibanez deal. I'm not sure I'm ready to bash him for dealing Lee but i do think he erred in trying to do both deals at once. it's not like Lee was a difficult deal to move, he could have closed the Doc deal and then moved Lee at his leisure (or maybe even been surprised to find he could sucker someone on Blanton).

My reaction to this deal is simple - IF the Yankees don't sign lee this off-season, then i really like it.

if they do, i'd rather have seen the M's relieve them of Montero along the way.


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Kelekin - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 07:40 AM EDT (#218131) #
I think it was a great deal for Texas.  To only give up a 1B, a prospect who can't strike out anyone, and two nobodies in exchange for a solid yet average reliever and an ace is great.

There certainly has been way worse deadline deals (Sabathia?).

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Jdog - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 08:48 AM EDT (#218133) #
What AA needs to relieve Amaro of is some scouts, or whoever is responsible for the talent they have been bringing in the last few years. Despite the prospects they traded to land halladay there system is still full of high ceiling possible impact players.
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sam - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 09:48 AM EDT (#218134) #
I know. Some of those arms down at A ball are really impressive.
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Shrike - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 01:53 PM EDT (#218141) #
Fact is, this looks like a win-win trade for both teams. Seattle got a better package than what they gave up to acquire Lee in the first place; Texas is going to receive two compensation picks if Lee signs elsewhere as a free agent, and they now have a significantly improved opportunity to go deep in the playoffs.
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katman - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 05:53 PM EDT (#218147) #
Forgot the compensation picks point. That helps the deal make more sense for Texas beyond 2010. Thanks.
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AWeb - Saturday, July 10 2010 @ 09:00 PM EDT (#218150) #
Perfect game through seven in Halladay's start tonight. Of course, it's the other guy who's mowing them down (well, both are, it's 0-0 through seven), Travis Wood. Yes, your reaction should be "Who is Travis Wood?", unless you follow the Reds a lot.
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