MLB Grade the Trade: Brewers trade Carlos Lee, Nelson Cruz to the Rangers

More than ten years ago at the 2006 MLB trade deadline, the Texas Rangers committed highway robbery.

Just days before the non-waiver trade deadline they managed to pick up sluggers Nelson Cruz and Carlos Lee in a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. In return, the Brewers received very little and lost out on a ton of power.

The package sent from the Rangers to the Brewers included Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix, and career-minor leaguer Julian Cordero (no relation to Francisco). At first glance, many will realize the better grade in this trade belongs to the Rangers. Upon further examination, it’s not tilted quite as far in that direction.

Lee would only spend the remainder of the season in Texas as his contract expired at the year’s end. However, during his limited time with the Rangers, he proved valuable. Lee smashed nine home runs over 59 games with a .322/.369/.525 slash line at the tail end of 2006 before signing with the Houston Astros in the offseason. The Rangers didn’t get to see Lee power them to victory for long.

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Fortunately, Cruz was a kid at the time with barely any MLB experience. He’d stick around through 2013 while delivering 157 home runs over the years. Cruz added two All-Star appearances to his resume while with Texas before leaving for free agency and becoming an even better home run threat.

Meanwhile, the Brewers were left with very little.

Francisco Cordero pitched very well and was an All-Star in 2007. He was clearly the highlight of this deal in terms of players that landed in Milwaukee. His 44 saves in 2007 and 16 to finish off the previous season made this trade a little less lopsided than a complete steal.

Mench and Nix barely contributed during their time in Milwaukee. Both were mostly part-time players fighting for at-bats. They didn’t stick around for long or do very much on the field to make up for the biggest loss Milwaukee suffered in this trade, Cruz.

Next: Darvish to DL, Pederson to minors

The names involved in this deal could certainly label it as a blockbuster. Oddly, no one involved had a huge impact on either the Rangers or Brewers once the deal was finalized. Cruz’s best seasons were put on hold until he joined the Baltimore Orioles for a year then moved to the Seattle Mariners. As mentioned, Lee didn’t stay with the Rangers for long.

While it was a blockbuster trade with the names involved, this is one trade deadline transaction that ultimately failed to change both franchises.