Rangers land Cliff Lee for Smoak and three others...

[SeattleSportsNerd]

What do you guys think of the trade? Smoak isn't exactly tearing it up at the moment, batting .209 with 8 HR and 34 RBI, but he is only 23 and in his first season in the bigs. The stat that tells me something about him is 38 BB to 57 K. A young guy with some patience and power is encouraging. The strikeouts are probably going to be high, seeing as he's a power hitter, but if he can hit .270 with 30+ HR I'll take it!

[JosephC]

From the looks of it he is an Adrian Beltre at 1st base... Gold Glove-caliber actions and soft hands with a good power bat.
I'm not as big on this trade as others are on this forum, but it's a decent one. I'll miss Lowe!

[Igoe4Mariners]

Ladies and gentleman...our new first baseman.

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=9158579&topic_id=players&query=type%3Djson%26player_id%3D475253%26start%3D0 %26src%3Dvpp%26sort%3Ddesc%26sort_type%3Dcustom%26 hitsPerPage%3D60&c_id=tex

[TellItToTheDA]

Ladies and gentleman...our new first baseman.

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=9158579&topic_id=players&query=type%3Djson%26player_id%3D475253%26start%3D0 %26src%3Dvpp%26sort%3Ddesc%26sort_type%3Dcustom%26 hitsPerPage%3D60&c_id=tex

Such a pretty, pretty swing.

Anyway, I like, no, I love this move! First base is now a set position for the next 5-6 years (sorry Mike Carp, it's nothing personal). For that matter, we've just taken away Smoak from the Rangers for the next 5-6 years. Blake Beavan was a first round pick, and a AA All-Star this season. I look at Lawson and Leuke as more throw in players, but to get a first baseman for now and the future, and a starter who I think could sneak into the rotation next year, if he keeps pitching the way he has been in AA, in Tacoma. And, we pissed off the Yankees, and who doesn't like that?

[JosephC]

Time to change my mood to amazed!

[SeaTownJosh]

Damnit im pissed. They shouldnt have traded mark lowe, and given them 2.5 million dollars. WTF? I hope to god this isnt like randy johnson trade where we get some mild players. Meaning garcia was the only top notch picture, an the other players were Meh.

[TellItToTheDA]

Damnit im pissed. They shouldnt have traded mark lowe, and given them 2.5 million dollars. WTF? I hope to god this isnt like randy johnson trade where we get some mild players. Meaning garcia was the only top notch picture, an the other players were Meh.

One, they upped the deal because we gave them the $2.5 million. Two, Carlos Guillen was not a meh player.

[SeaTownJosh]

What you talking about? Carlos isnt doing that well anymore.

[georgmi]

What you talking about? Carlos isnt doing that well anymore.

Carlos' last couple of years do not erase his stretch of 2001-2008, where he averaged over 3 WAR a year. Nothin' "meh" about that.

Also, Freddy Garcia was pretty good, and Mike Cameron still is one of the better outfielders out there.

The Randy Johnson trade was one of the better ones in M's history.

[TellItToTheDA]

Carlos' last couple of years do not erase his stretch of 2001-2008, where he averaged over 3 WAR a year. Nothin' "meh" about that.

Also, Freddy Garcia was pretty good, and Mike Cameron still is one of the better outfielders out there.

The Randy Johnson trade was one of the better ones in M's history.

Mike Cameron actually came in the Griffey deal. But John Halama had a couple of good years.

[georgmi]

You are correct; I was confused.

I always liked John Halama. He's still playing, still trying to get back to the bigs: http://www.oregonlive.com/pbeavers/index.ssf/2010/06/former_mariner_john_halama_is.html