ESPN Sources: Rangers acquire LHP Lee
Cliff Lee was going to a contender no matter what. Turns out it was the Texas Rangers, not the New York Yankees.
After talks between the Seattle Mariners and Yanks fell apart Friday afternoon, the Rangers jumped in and reached agreement on a trade for the left-hander, sources confirmed to ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
The New York Post reported that the M's sent Lee and reliever Mark Lowe to Texas for first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor-leaguers.
The Mariners will also send $2.5 million to the Rangers to subsidize the $4 million still owed to Lee. Texas has financial limitations due to bankruptcy hearings associated with the sale of the team. There has been speculation that the Rangers would not be able to add weapons for the stretch run.
Lee is 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA this season for the Mariners, his first in Seattle. The Phillies traded him this offseason after acquiring Roy Halladay.
Lee won the Cy Young while with Cleveland in 2008. Over nine seasons he is 98-55 with a 3.84 ERA.
(rumored: Blake Beaven in the trade)
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