Cliff Lee to Rangers in six player deal.

[Chamillitary Click]

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=5367615

Cliff Lee was going to a contender no matter what. Turns out it was the Texas Rangers, not the New York Yankees.

"Just heard from [Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik]," Lee texted to ESPN The Magazine's Amy K. Nelson. "It's official. From last [place] to first."

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.

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 -- despite leading the AL West -- 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.

It's unusual for a team to trade a start pitcher within it's own division, but the Mariners have been a huge disappointment. Heading into Friday's action, they trailed the Rangers by 16 games.

When asked how he felt about the deal, Lee texted "good I guess. Gonna be on a very good team. Definitely gonna be hot!"

The Yankees had offered Seattle a three-player package, centered around catcher Jesus Montero -- who is rated as one of the best prospects in baseball, despite questions about whether he can be a catcher in the big leagues -- second baseman David Adams and a young prospect.

But the deal began to unravel, a source told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, when the Mariners became concerned about the health of Adams, who is out with a sprained ankle.

This is disappointing. I don't know what went wrong with the trade talks with the Yankees, but Cliff Lee would have wrapped it up for us.

Texas has offense, just lacks pitching; I hope it doesn't come back to bite us in the ass in the playoffs.

[theremedy360]

If this goes through you might as well just hand the Yanks a championship right now (and more if he re-signs)  I am looking forward to Jesus Montero though.

[Chamillitary Click]

This is so amazing to me that I'll be emotionally destroyed if the Rays swoop in & fuck up our plans.

CLIFF LEE NEEDS TO HAVE AN HOUR LONG PRESS CONFERENCE.

[theremedy360]

Cliff Lee is really everything you can want in a pitcher (minus being over 30). Class act, team leader, work horse, and the epitome of a fuckin ace.

[Chamillitary Click]

Cliff Lee is really everything you can want in a pitcher (minus being over 30). Class act, team leader, work horse, and the epitome of a fuckin ace.

& he'll be our number two.

[Chamillitary Click]

DAMNIT! They said that trade talks have stalled & it's unsure if they will restart! FML.

[theremedy360]

He's on the Rangers, I'm glad he's there instead of NY, and that's saying something 

[Chamillitary Click]

He's on the Rangers, I'm glad he's there instead of NY, and that's saying something 

Fuuuuuuck, is that a fact? Link?

[E-Crazy]

Fuuck. I'm Nervous.

[MistaNova]

There went Seatle's last (or second-to-last) hope.

I'm looking foward to what Smoak brings to the Mariners table though.