Rangers foolishly dump Cordero for FA-to-be Lee
By the Heckler
BaseballBigMouth.com baseball blog
Some news and notes to comment on as we inch closer to the Monday trade deadline, with one major trade coming down Friday . . .
MILWAUKEE BREWERS acquire reliever Francisco Cordero, outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix, plus minor league left-hander Julian Cordero (no relation to Francisco) from the TEXAS RANGERS for outfielder Carlos Lee and minor league outfielder Nelson Cruz.
This is a move that leaves the Heckler scratching his head just a bit. I mean, Texas is notorious for being hitting-rich and pitching-poor – so what do they do (again) – not address their most-glaring need, but instead, add another bat to their lineup?!? I guess that team 4.65 ERA is just fine with them. Now granted, Lee provides a booming bat that 
should fit-in quite nicely with an already-powerful batting order, but – for one – he’s a free agent at the end of the year. And for two? Why would you give up on a guy with a electric arm like Francisco Cordero based on one bad month of baseball? Sure, he started the year horrifically, blowing five saves in his first eight attempts, en route to posting an 11.45 ERA in April, but has pitched well since then (even though it has been in a set-up role for now-closer Akinori Otsuka). Yes, he is only 6 for 15 this year in save opportunities, but – man – this guy throws smoke, and is just one year removed from 37 saves in 2005, and that season piggybacked his 49 saves effort the year prior. In fairness, they are apparently high on Cruz, reportedly one of these infamous “five-tool guys” in the mold of a Juan Encarnacion . . . and boy, we all know what kind of spectacular career he has had, eh? For the record, Mr. Encarnacion is now with his sixth team in six years. But even if Cruz turns into a decent player (he’s already 26-years-old) this trade all hinges on retaining Lee for the long haul. Mench has also put up some decent numbers in his own right as well.
The Heckler gives the edge in this trade to Milwaukee, I gotta say. I mean, if Texas fails to resign Lee, which they have stated they have every intention of doing, they have essentially given away a good arm (that is only 31-years of age, by the way) simply for the hopes of winning the weak AL WEST division – all for the right to get thumped by the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees in the playoffs. Memo to the Texas front office – winners are build from the mound out. Now, if they were putting together a softball team, they might be in business . . .
ATLANTA acquires right-handed reliever Danys Baez and utilityman Willy Aybar from the LOS ANGELES DODGERS for infielder Wilson Betemit.
Again, another puzzler. Baez is only 9 for 16 this year in save opps, but has logged 41, 30 and 25 saves the last three years. So the Dodgers deal him for another utility man? Huh? And they wonder why they haven’t won the World Series since 1988. Dumb trade.
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