The Milwaukee Brewers are trading slugger Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers as part of a multiplayer deal, ESPN.com learned Friday.
The Brewers are sending Lee, minor league outfield prospect Nelson Cruz to the Rangers for relief pitcher Francisco Cordero and outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix.
Lee, who can become a free agent after this season, is hitting .286 with 28 home runs and 81 RBI. He is a .284 career hitter over eight seasons with the White Sox (1999-2004) and Brewers (2005-06).
The Rangers (51-51) would still like to add another starting pitcher, but couldn't pass up the chance to add Lee as they strive for their first playoff appearance since 1999. Texas went into Friday's game against Kansas City in third place in the AL West, but only two games behind division-leading Oakland.
Cordero was the Rangers' closer until he set a major league record with five blown saves in April, and was replaced in that role by Akinori Otsuka. In his last appearance for Texas, Cordero allowed four runs in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. The right-hander was 7-4 with six saves and a 4.81 ERA in 49 appearances.
Mench is hitting .284 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI. Nix has been in the minor leagues since batting .094 (3-for-32) in nine games in April.
Both teams are checking for any medical issues before consummating the deal.
The Brewers are sending Lee, minor league outfield prospect Nelson Cruz to the Rangers for relief pitcher Francisco Cordero and outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix.
Lee, who can become a free agent after this season, is hitting .286 with 28 home runs and 81 RBI. He is a .284 career hitter over eight seasons with the White Sox (1999-2004) and Brewers (2005-06).
The Rangers (51-51) would still like to add another starting pitcher, but couldn't pass up the chance to add Lee as they strive for their first playoff appearance since 1999. Texas went into Friday's game against Kansas City in third place in the AL West, but only two games behind division-leading Oakland.
Cordero was the Rangers' closer until he set a major league record with five blown saves in April, and was replaced in that role by Akinori Otsuka. In his last appearance for Texas, Cordero allowed four runs in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. The right-hander was 7-4 with six saves and a 4.81 ERA in 49 appearances.
Mench is hitting .284 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI. Nix has been in the minor leagues since batting .094 (3-for-32) in nine games in April.
Both teams are checking for any medical issues before consummating the deal.
