We almost got Carlos Lee!

by GrewUpAtTheColiseum on Jul 28, 2006 9:03 AM PDT

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=477507

The Brewers dealt Lee and minor league outfielder Nelson Cruz to the Rangers in exchange for outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix, reliever Francisco Cordero and minor league pitcher Julian Cordero.

Sources close to the team confirmed Friday morning the deal had been made.

The deal actually was agreed upon after midnight as Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and his staff stayed late Thursday at Miller Park and worked the telephones. Several teams showed interest in Lee, including Detroit, Oakland and both Los Angeles clubs, but Melvin felt he got the best return from Texas.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Awesome

I am so glad we came close while our division got him!! (note the sarcasm)

"Christ, evidentally I played against Swisher in '02 when he was at OSU and Granderson when he was at Illinois-Chicago."

by compy75 on Jul 28, 2006 9:17 AM PDT reply actions

Key-rap-eee

Not good for the A's.

Proudly celebrating my 20th year as an A's fan.

by bzn5150 on Jul 28, 2006 9:21 AM PDT reply actions

Dumb move by the Rangers

The team has tons of offence, they needed pitching. They weakened there bullpen more than they think, Cordero has been okay for them the last two months as a set up guy and he can throw up to 100mph. He will be hard to replace and losing him will cause them to over use the rest of the pen. Overall I don't think this trade suddenly makes them a whole lot better. Also as A's fans can attest to, when guys come over from the national league it seems there is a 2-3 month adjustment or longer. That is why I am hoping if the A's trade for a bat it comes from the american league.

In England all A's fans are "Athletic Supporters"

by Athletics Fan In London on Jul 28, 2006 10:06 AM PDT reply actions

Cmon....

He played in the AL until last year.....He isnt goign to have a 2-3 month adjustment.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jul 28, 2006 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Lee in A.L. just a year or so ago so no

adjustment time will be required. Sorry about that.

Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Jul 28, 2006 10:11 AM PDT reply actions

yeah he has

I thought about it for a moment and remembered that he was on the white sox but still it seems his homeruns numbers are inflated. Over his career he averaged 30 a year in the american league and he already hit 28 this year, I think it will return closer to his career average being back in the AL. I don't think this trade is anything to panic about. If he went to the Angels that would be a different story but Texas weakened there doing this so I think it is a wash.

In England all A's fans are "Athletic Supporters"

by Athletics Fan In London on Jul 28, 2006 10:25 AM PDT reply actions

Cordero could be a steal

He was once very good.

Why don't they just lick their fingers? --

by novaoakland on Jul 28, 2006 10:25 AM PDT reply actions

once?

he's been pretty good for the last three months...

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jul 28, 2006 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Hmph!

I feel like the Brewers got taken to the cleaners on this one. If this was all it took to get Carlos Lee (i.e. NO PROSPECTS!!!!!!!!) then it's too bad Beane wasn't able to really get in there.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin, Seattle Mariners

by Helloooo 1st on Jul 28, 2006 11:07 AM PDT reply actions

No "Prospects" is a good thing for them:

They got 2 Bonafied Major league players and a third player who will be a good 4th OF.

Prospects are just that.

Give me guy who saves 40 games a year and guy that hits 25-30 HR's a year for a prospect and a guy I would lose anyway, any day of the year.

BTW, they did also get a young pitcher in the deal from texas.

While taint is everywhere and baseball is certainly no different, it's important that it be treated with open attention-Devo

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Jul 28, 2006 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Bonafied?

Isn't that a film John Holmes starred in?

"I smell like a meadow." - Yuniesky Betancourt

by Ozzz on Jul 28, 2006 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions

yep

with a pre-Pittsburgh Cam Bonifay...

by RevHalofan on Jul 28, 2006 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I can't wait for the sequel...

"We almost won the division!" Or "We almost won the WS!"

Nothing against you personally, I just feel we could have topped Texas' offer and Carlos would have helped us more than he will help the Rangers.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jul 28, 2006 11:54 AM PDT reply actions

I am curious how we could have topped it

Not saying we couldn't, but since it seems the Brewers were more focused on major league guys it would make it tough.

The only OFer we have that is more valuable then Mench is Swisher (and we do not want to deal him for Lee)-- Payton (pending FA) or Kotsay (getting old, unfavorable contract) would not have interested the Brewers at all. To top Cordero would have probably taken Duke or Street, I don't think even Calero would have done it as they are hoping for a return to Cordero's closer days (as their current closer just lost his job).

So would be willing to trade Duke and Swisher for Lee? Doesn't seem good to me.

Texas (unfortunately for us) had just the right combo of MLB ready extra parts that the Brewers wanted (although Texas will regret dealing Cordero I think when their pen implodes in the next month or two).

The good ones learn from their mistakes. The great ones learn from everyone's mistakes. -- James Street

by AsFanInLA on Jul 28, 2006 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions