Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels must have missed the memo about team bankruptcy prohibiting the club from making major moves at this year's trade deadline.
With the team in prime position to capture its first AL West crown in 11 years, JD went after some free agents anyway. He landed arguably the best pitcher in baseball in Cliff Lee. It cost the team one of its best prospects, but JD's live-in-the-moment mentality really seems to be paying off. The Rangers hold a 8.5-game lead in the West.
Here are the moves we've made, with a corresponding grade and some brief follow-up thoughts:
1. Rangers get Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe from Seattle for Justin Smoak and prospects Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matt Lawson:
Grade: A.
Tough not to give this one an A. Since coming over to Texas on July 10, Lee has made four starts, and lasted nine innings in three of them. He went 8.1 innings in the other start. He's struck out 25 and walked one. The one walk was intentional, so he hasn't really walked anyone. Incredible.
The obvious fear is that Lee becomes a free agent after this season, making him a clear target for big-market teams like the Yankees and Red Sox. The Rangers' ownership situation will be resolved this week, and maybe the Rangers can convince the Benton, Ark., native to stay close to home.
Either way, I'd consider the trade a wild success if the Rangers win a playoff series, something that hasn't been done in the history of the franchise.
2. Rangers get Bengie Molina from San Francisco for Chris Ray and prospect Michael Main:
Grade: B.
Taylor Teagarden wasn't working out. Ditto with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Matt Treanor found the disabled list with a sprained right knee on July 24. Catcher was a position of weakness for the Rangers and it needed to be addressed.
I've heard various friends and fellow Rangers fans rip this trade, but I'm not going to go that far. I don't love the trade either, but I surely don't despise it.
Yeah, sure, Molina's old (age 36). But you think the Rangers are going to make the playoffs this year? I do, too. Better make sure you have a catcher who can control a game, display above-average defensive skills and work with Cliff Lee.
Admittedly, Molina's offense has been dreadful. Since coming over on June 30, he's hit .196 and only had more than one hit in a game once (in the most random game ever when he hit for the cycle).
I just refuse to lose sleep over giving up Chris Ray, who has 22 strikeouts and 20 walks on the year. Yeah, the guy throws 95 and is supposed to be a power pitcher. But I'm fine with that ratio being far away from Arlington.
3. Rangers get Jorge Cantu from Florida for Omar Poveda and Evan Reed:
Grade: B.
First base was another area of weakness for Texas, which has now sent Chris Davis down to Triple-A two times this season. With the depature of Smoak and the ineffectiveness of Davis, the position became wide open. Mitch Moreland was called up, but he's never been a full-time player in the big leagues. Cantu will become a free agent this season, but his experience could help the team in the short-term.
4. Rangers get Cristian Guzman from Washington for pitching prospects Ryan Tatusko and Tanner Roark:
Grade: B.
Again, another needs-based trade that immediately helps the club. Second baseman Ian Kinsler is on the disabled list with a left groin strain on July 28, so Guzman can step in for the time being.
If nothing else, we're a more experienced team after the Cantu and Guzman trades. Should we make the playoffs, this will be important. I'd rather have a bench of Guzman and Cantu than asking inexperienced guys like Joaquin Arias and Andres Blanco to come up with big hits in the playoffs.
5. Rangers get Chris McGuinness, Ramon Mendez, a player to be named later and cash from Boston for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Grade: A.
The Salty era in Texas was coming to an end. The team gave him ample chances to win the starting catcher gig, but it never worked out. The Rangers got a flame-thrower in Mendez and first-base help for the farm system.
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