Mariners Trade Cliff Lee to Rangers

For the third time in less than a year pitcher Cliff Lee has been traded.

Today, the Seattle Mariners traded the ace lefty to the Texas Rangers along with reliever Mark Lowe for first baseman Justin Smoak and three prospects.

The Mariners acquired Lee in the off season from the Philadelphia Phillies in the blockbuster trade that sent Roy Halladay to the Phillies.

The Phillies acquired Lee in July 2009 from the Cleveland Indians and led them to a NL championship. He would get the Phillies two wins in the World Series against the New York Yankees.

Naturally, the Yankees were looking to obtain Lee's services but the Rangers beat them to the punch. Nolan Ryan is ecstatic.

Despite missing the first month of the season, Lee was sensational with Seattle. Lee went 8-3 with an AL best 2.34 ERA. He struck out 89 batters while walking only six. He also leads the AL in complete games with five.

Unfortunately, the Mariners have not been sensational. Entering tonight, the Mariners were in last place in the AL West with a 34-51 record and 16 games behind the first place Rangers.

The Rangers are five and a half games up on the Los Angels of Anaheim in the AL West and acquiring Lee might clinch it for them. After the All-Star Break, the Rangers and Angels face off six times. The Rangers haven't been in the post-season since 1999.