Last week the Texas Rangers acquired Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe from the Seattle Mariners for first base prospect Justin Smoak and three other prospects.
I’m working on a full-blown article on the deal, but here’s my tentative conclusion:
While the Mariners *may* have acquired more total surplus value in the deal, the Rangers, in first place and without a playoff appearance since 1999, are in very good position to add a top-shelf player like Lee. He shows their fans that they are serious about competing and, once in the playoffs, as a top-of-the-rotation starter can be leveraged in short series. Further contributing to his ‘hidden value’ are the draft picks the Rangers will receive when he walks for free agency.
Overall, I think, a win-win for both sides.
