04/19/24
July 28, 2006
Brewers trade Lee to Rangers, get Cordero: The Brewers are sending Carlos Lee and minor league outfield prospect Nelson Cruz to the Rangers for relief pitcher Francisco Cordero and outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix. More bats for the Rangers, while their pitching still lags behind. Maybe this clears the way for other moves?
Wow. I thought Bowden would blink first and set the market with Soriano. I was expecting Lee to get traded over the weekend, Saturday or Sunday. I'm trying to figure out how I feel about this trade - it seems Doug Melvin actually thinks the Brewers are still in the hunt for the wild card. *suppressed laughter* Don't get me wrong - Lee had to go, no matter what. Letting him walk and getting draft picks wasn't going to cut the mustard. But a league average outfielder in Mench? Cordero's obviously going to close for the Brewers now, and we needed a closer, but I feel like we didn't get enough. Although, I suppose Doug could have something else up his sleeve, possibly sending Mench and Nix elsewhere for a pitching prospect. We certainly don't need another outfielder - Corey Hart can nearly match Lee's production already, and he's younger and cheaper. Waiting for something worse to happen...
posted by rocketman at 11:18 AM on July 28, 2006
It looks like a good deal. It could be the "shot in the arm" that Tecas needs. I was wishing the the Twins would get Lee. Oh well, we could still get Soriono!
posted by daddisamm at 12:05 PM on July 28, 2006
But this just occurred to me: Milwaukee's now got something like ten outfielders: Corey Hart Tony Gwynn Jr. Gabe Gross Brady Clark Geoff Jenkins Kevin Mench Laynce Nix Dave Krynzel (AAA) Okay, well, 8. I'm guessing there's gotta be another trade in the pipeline before Monday. Especially if you trade Jenkins and replace him with Mench - Mench in RF, Hart in LF, Gross/Gwynn in CF. That leaves Clark, Nix, and Krynzel available as trade bait, and there's enough demand for outfielders that they could all be moved. Also, nearly everyone's looking for relief pitching. Maybe he'll deal Cordero too. Doug Melvin's a pretty crafty GM. daddisamm: I doubt the Twins will make any trades. They've got the team they need to go deep in the playoffs, especially since they'll call up Garza in September and put him in the rotation. They're going to be tough come October.
posted by rocketman at 12:07 PM on July 28, 2006
I think this was an ok trade but Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix are to very important people to the rangers and do come up to the clutch.
posted by Billy33 at 12:13 PM on July 28, 2006
ever since he hit three homers during the sox cubs series at wrigley a few years back I have been in love with this guy and I am a cubs fan go figure I hope he does well with the rangers but I have to wonder about the brewers what were the thinking?
posted by luther70 at 12:14 PM on July 28, 2006
Looks like the Brewers have tons of trade bait- I wonder if they have a snowballs chance of landing Soriano?
posted by redsoxrgay at 12:26 PM on July 28, 2006
Well, I think this was a great deal for Texas - they got a corner outfielder for the next few years for a declining Kevin Mench, a good but not great Lance Nix and a premium reliver in Cordero (which must have been the key component). But Texas has never lacked for hitting. Plus, Millwaukee now has more tradeable assets and looks set up for a busy off-season. As far as I'm concerned, if you're not the Angels or Twins, you're looking for three things: Pitching, pitching and pitching. daddisamm - Twins look AWESOME. I think they're taking the wild card away from the ChiSox and are going to go to the World Series. They seem like they could add a bat into the fith or six slot and that's really all they need. I thought they were World Series bound last year - I think I was a year off. Right now - easily the best team in the AL (though Boston keeps chugging along, and I will continue to believe the Tiggers are an aberation until they beat on the quality teams out East).
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:33 PM on July 28, 2006
I'm glad the Reds don't have to face Lee this weekend.
posted by Desert Dog at 12:35 PM on July 28, 2006
Deal is probably good for both teams. Brewers get possible closer in Cordero if he can return to days of yesteryear (he pretty much had lost the team and the fans in Texas with his performance this year), Mench and Nix who can serve as trade bait or even possibly serviceable outfielders (if Nix ever got healthy again). Rangers get to rent Lee for remainder of year before he probably moves somewhere else in free agency. Key for Rangers may be Cruz, who looks to be upgrade over Nix at this point for health reasons if nothing else. Texas has never lacked for hitting at least until this year!
posted by graymatters at 01:09 PM on July 28, 2006
horible trade for breweres they should have benn looking for amazing prospects not players that r ok and a closer who ant even do good amazing for the rangers
posted by Barry-from-H-town at 01:17 PM on July 28, 2006
Key for Rangers may be Cruz They'll be disappointed. With his AAA numbers, the only reason he hasn't been playing in the bigs is because something's wrong with him. I've read lots of talk about a nice hole in his swing, and heard one report that he can't hit a breaking ball to save his life. possible closer in Cordero if he can return to days of yesteryear If you leave out April, Cordero's been great this year. So the Brewers shipped 2 outfielders, and got 2 outfielders, plus an above average bullpen guy and a pitching prospect. Also: whoever overpays for Carlos Lee next year is going to be disappointed. He fades in the 2nd half, and has probably already seen his best years. Like I said above, Corey Hart will hit almost as well, and is a better defender to boot. If Mench platoons with Jenkins (since Mench crushes left-handed pitching), the Brewers just got better. Also, as Weedy pointed out above, this positions them well for offseason trades. I like this deal.
posted by rocketman at 01:21 PM on July 28, 2006
Last year at this time, the Rangers were on a near record pace to break the MLB team record for HR's in a season, this year they are middle of the pack 16th out of 30 teams. Their pitching has improved quite a bit over last season, ( I daresay it couldn't have gotten much worse) and they have found themselves on the short end of many a low soring game this year, so, I see this as a good trade. Cordero will be stuck in late inning relief, I don't see the Brewers moving Turnbow aside. Weedy, Mench is hardly declining, he is only 28 years old, and this years stats almost mirror his career figures. An All-Star he is not, but as rocketman pointed out, he is fairly dangerous when facing the southpaws. I hope the trade is beneficial to both clubs, hard to not like a team that has Bernie and the sausages!
posted by mjkredliner at 01:36 PM on July 28, 2006
If cruz is as flawed as you say, rocketman, then I like this trade too. Those AAA numbers are impressive though and all I ever heard about cruz was that he was going to be a good one. I'm sad to see el caballo go, he was fun to watch.
posted by tron7 at 01:43 PM on July 28, 2006
If cruz is as flawed as you say, rocketman He strikes out in 1/3 of his ABs. At AAA. Those numbers won't get better in the majors.
posted by rocketman at 02:02 PM on July 28, 2006
Another National League guy joins the AL, many more NL'ers gonna switch soon. Looks like the NL is now looking at a few more years of mediocrity and continued All Star game dominance by the AL.
posted by skydivedad at 02:10 PM on July 28, 2006
Cordero will be stuck in late inning relief, I don't see the Brewers moving Turnbow aside I thought they already moved Turnbow and had put Kolb back in. I saw Turnbow blow like six games in the last two weeks, so if he is still closing, I still like Cordero in that role more than him.
posted by sublime4390116 at 02:16 PM on July 28, 2006
I should pay more attention to the box scores, I reckon!
posted by mjkredliner at 02:24 PM on July 28, 2006
The Brewers made an awsome deal. Lee was gone at the end of the season and they got two solid players. This also gives them the ability to go and get some starting pitching. Talks of Maddux being moved where big not to long ago and now with the outfielders the Brewers have the Cubs might listen a bit harder. The Rangers also got a big bat which will deffinately help them in the race for there division. Good for both clubs I think.
posted by kidrayter2005 at 02:45 PM on July 28, 2006
This is a great example of how high priced pitching is. Personally, I think that the trade favors the Ranges, but who knows how many more deals will be made before the deadline. If the Brew Crew can trade some of their surplus of outfielders, they can really benefit from this trade. Plus, keeping Lee around could have gotten very expensive.
posted by redsoxrgay at 02:48 PM on July 28, 2006
He strikes out in 1/3 of his ABs. Sounds like a perfect replacement for Wilkerson. 295 ABs; 106 SOs.
posted by graymatters at 03:30 PM on July 28, 2006
I am happy that the rangers get another good hitter. They have struggled a lot this year at the plate. I am glad that they did not have to sell their soul to get him. Go Rangers!
posted by sportsg at 03:30 PM on July 28, 2006
Another National League guy joins the AL, many more NL'ers gonna switch soon. He was only a temporary NL'er. He'd only spent a season and a half in the NL after six in the AL.
posted by grum@work at 03:50 PM on July 28, 2006
Brewer fan here ... I wouldn't mind the deal if Nelson Cruz wasn't part of it. I feel like we gave away two legitimate power-hitters and didn't get an awful lot for them.
posted by rgchappell at 05:27 PM on July 28, 2006
It looks to me like another trade for the sake of a trade. The Brewers and their fans should like it and we are getting used to the rest of the majors doing good off the Rangers desire to trade and suck themselves into the basement. Ah well, if you happen to be around St. Louis this weekend, try to see the Texas Drillers play. They are only 12 years old and under but they have pitching and hitting, something the Rangers are missing. The best thing about the Drillers is that they have Kyle Clowe on the mound, and you real baseball fans may want to remember that name. He hits, too. Go Drillers! Ho hum, Rangers. Congratulations Brewers.
posted by Bud Lang at 06:26 PM on July 28, 2006
Doug Melvin's a pretty crafty GM. Indeed he is. Obviously, it wasn't difficult for the local media to get Melvin on the phone here in Dallas for an interview this afternoon on my way home. From what he said, a) He wouldn't have included Cruz without Nix (which kind of gives me pause about Cruz*), b) Knew that Lee had to be dealt, otherwise they'd lose him for nothing (hear that, Cuban?) and c) really likes Kevin Mench. Enjoy the Shrekster, rocketman (uh, meaning Mench, given his 8.3" ish hat size). He's a hell of a great guy, very funny, and very likeable. I'm more sad to see him leave for his personality and charity-work than I am for his b-balling. Then again, get ready to bite the bullet on Coco. He had one really really great year ('04) but has since lost his ability to move the fastball around. It's completely lost motion. Nix? Alright kid that always got a little bit of local pumping due to the fact that he's from Midland/Odessa, but was constantly competing for playing time and has spent more time in the minors than at Ameriquest. I'll shed no tears seeing him leave. Well, I think this was a great deal for Texas - they got a corner outfielder for the next few years for a... This was a nice score for GM Wunderkind John Daniels, and much better than anything that the bullshit empty golf shirt John Hart ever pulled, but JD's got two things riding very hard on this move, considering it's his first year here: Lee had better inject the Rangers offense like Canseco in a toilet stall. Given the fact that he's 1-1 and has a run scored so far, looks like it won't be a gamble. But, Lee's a FA after this season. If he does well - which won't be a surprise to anyone given that Ameriquest is a hitter's paradise - can JD convince Tom Hicks to offer him a big contract, given that, sooner than later, Teixeira and Mike Young are going to need to get paid too? Daniel's has, from what I can gather, about a C so far as a GM, but a lot of that is hindsight given Soriano's year, Eaton's injury, and Wilkerson's ability to K every time I blink. This trade, and possibly whatever else is coming, will be his short-term legacy, and his doing or undoing. I hope it works out. *That said, rocketman, if .300+ BA and 20 HRs and 70+ RBI means he strikes out every third time, well, I take it, even if it is in Nashville.
posted by Ufez Jones at 08:16 PM on July 28, 2006
Rocketman..... You forgot Bill Hall who has been tearin' it up a bit of late and who himself, has 22 dingers. Offensively, the Brewers should (and have been) fine, it's the pitching that's been a problem and this trade really doesn't address that. It is however a good move by the Brewers as Lee was gone at the end of the year anyway as the club would not over pay him. Good Luck Texas!
posted by R_A_Mason at 08:20 PM on July 28, 2006
The Brewers offered Lee 52 million over four years and he turned it down. The Brewers did what they had to do. If the Brewers stick to what they have been doing, they will keep building a strong farm system. Building the team with young players out of minors seems to be working, slowly. Signing big buck FA does not fit in this plan. Beside that, Lee isnt worth 52 mil to a small market team.
posted by CB900 at 10:50 AM on July 29, 2006
Ufez Jones Nix? Alright kid that always got a little bit of local pumping due to the fact that he's from Midland/Odessa Thank you Ufez, I think that he is indeed an "allright kid". I was fortunate enough to watch Laynce play little league and high school ball here in Midland, (he was the starting QB for Midland High as well) and, as such, I have more than a passing interest in his career. He was literally handed the starting CF job this spring, and started the season so poorly that the Rangers, who were fairly deep in the outfield, were more or less forced to send him back down to Oklahoma City. The two injuries sustained in 2005 (one crashing into the wall, the other trying to make a diving catch) and subsequent two surgeries, were a blow, but, I hope that he rebounds completely, and lives up to whatever expectations he has of himself. His brother,Jayson, is playing at AAA Colorado Springs for the Rockies organization, and we have high hopes for him, too. I hope Laynce does well in Milwaukee, and I hope the residents of that city come to realize that he is an "allright kid", too.
posted by mjkredliner at 01:27 PM on July 29, 2006
nah dude we might need a little pitching but with lee we got an awesome deal and the guy who is real good and was going to replace him still only loosing one good player in mench RANGERs finally did something good