Cliff Lee To The Rangers: Oh The Possibilities

     Yet again it is early July and the Rangers are in first place in the AL West. How long is this going to last though? Over the past several years the Rangers have been notorious for being in first place at this point during the season and fizzling out towards the end of the year. Part of this can be attributed to the Rangers lack of quality activity or lack of activity altogether at the trade deadline. "What about Bengie Molina?" you say, I say that that is not really a move that is going to make a big push for the team when you look at it closely. I know there are a number of objections to what I am about to say, but I am going to say it anyway.........the Rangers should make a push for Cliff Lee.

     You can make any number of objections to this notion whether it be the money or the fact that its inter-division or the fact that the we would have to give up too much to get him. All of this pales to this one single fact, the Rangers would be a real contender with Cliff Lee in the rotation. They could even contend for dare I say it? DARE DARE! The World Series! The rotation would have a veteran leader with playoff experience that is dominant against the Yankees, and pretty much everyone else for that matter. You can make the argument that it would only be for a year and that its not worth letting several quality prospects go to make this happen, but all I have to say to that is prospects are not and never will be more valuable than a ring. On top of that who would you rather have him as a Rangers fan; the Rangers or some other team they will see in the playoffs? Yeah, you don't even need to answer that one.

     Let's kill two birds with one stone here and go for the inter-division and prospect cost of Lee right now. The inter-division question becomes a moot point when you just come to grips with the fact that Seattle will deal within the division if you make the deal make sense to them. Give them a couple of prospects that they can see making them a better down the road, because we have them to give up. Derek Holland, Chris Davis, or Matt Harrison either one would not be a bad place to start with the trade. Three prospects and eating some of his salary for the rest of the year should be quite enough to land Cliff Lee. The Rangers have the prospects to give up to get Lee no problem and not kill the farm system. I know people don't really think too highly of that, but you have to give talent to get talent. Plain and simple. I shall say it again prospects are never as valuable as a World Series ring.

     Lets talk dollars and sense now. Yes, I did mean to type sense and not cents. People just look at the money that Lee is going to cost the organization, not the money that he will bring in. An extended run the playoffs makes the Rangers more what? Money, yes that's right class. I know that the Rangers finances are tight right now, but Seattle wants to get something for Lee rather than just letting him walk at the end of the year and getting nothing. Let that something be the Rangers something! Last time I checked as well the Rangers rotation could use another lefty in the mix to change things up. In the playoffs you can deal with a four man rotation if need be. Imagine this Lee, Lewis, Wilson, and Hunter. Heck you can throw Scott Feldman or Rich Harden in there to make a fifth if you want, but you really don't have to. All I am saying is I really don't see a down side to this deal if you really want to make it happen, and I think that the Rangers could make it happen if they really wanted to. All they have to do is get out that old crowbar and open that wallet a little, then dig around in that deep barrel of Rangers prospects and send a few over to Seattle. In return you get a former Cy Young winner, and greatly improved odds of making a serious run at a title.

     Food for thought. Chew it, savor it, then let it digest. Get back to me when all has settled and this seems as savory to you other Ranger fans as it does to me.