Major League Baseball

Rangers land Lee in trade with Mariners

Published Jul. 9, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Cliff Lee is headed to the Texas Rangers, apparently much to the irritation of some of the New York Yankees.

As first reported by the New York Post, the Rangers landed the ace left-hander and relief pitcher Mark Lowe from the Mariners in exchange for first baseman Justin Smoak, right-handed pitchers Blake Beavan and Josh Lueke, and second baseman/outfielder Matt Lawson.

The Rangers are receiving $2.25 million from the Mariners in the deal.

Lee, whose salary is $9 million, is still owed more than $4 million for the rest of this season. Lowe, who might return from back surgery in September, is earning a $1.15 million salary this year.

The Yankees had emerged as the front-runner earlier Friday before a proposed deal stalled because of the Mariners’ concerns over an ankle injury to one of the three players they would have received, Double-A second baseman David Adams, major-league sources said.

"You just don't do business that way," one Yankee official said. Others in the organization were more understanding of the circumstances.

The Yankees believed they had a deal with Seattle, but the Mariners took the package to the Rangers and said if Smoak were included, the deal would be done.

Once the Rangers put Smoak in a formal offer for the first time, Lee was theirs.

Earlier Friday, the Mariners were set to accept a package of three prospects from the Yankees for Lee — Adams, Triple-A catcher Jesus Montero and Triple-A right-hander Zach McAllister, sources said.

Montero was the centerpiece of the deal. Adams was widely reported to be the second piece.

Lee, a 31-year-old left-hander, is 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA this season. He was scheduled to pitch against the Yankees in Seattle on Friday night.

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