Lee sent to Rangers in first big trade
The Texas Rangers acquired Carlos Lee from the Milwaukee Brewers, who traded their All-Star outfielder on Friday after failing to sign him to a contract extension.
“It became very evident that we weren’t going to be able to keep Carlos at the end of the season,” Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. “We gave it our best shot and, at that point, we started entertaining the offers from a number of clubs.”
The Brewers got reliever Francisco Cordero and outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix from the Rangers. Melvin acquired all of those players in Texas when he was the GM there.
Melvin said he talked to six teams about Lee, but settled on Texas because of the “major-league-ready” players involved and his familiarity with them.
It was the first major deal completed in the days leading up to Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline. Because of his potential free agent status, Lee was considered one of the biggest trade targets.
Utley extends hit streak to 28
All-Star second baseman Chase Utley singled in the eighth inning of the Phillies’ game against Florida on Friday to extend his hitting streak to 28 games, the longest in the major leagues this season.
Utley hit a hard liner to center field off reliever Taylor Tankersley. He now has the third-longest streak in team history.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has the longest streak at 38 games – the final 36 of last season and the first two this year. Ed Delahanty had a 31-game streak in 1899. Billy Hamilton also had a 27-gamer in 1894. Chuck Klein twice hit in 26 straight games in 1930.
Bond’s future not in Pittsburgh
Leaning back in a chair at his locker, hand resting on an outstretched leg, Barry Bonds looked relaxed back in the city where he took his first cuts in the majors.
He joked around and said he enjoyed road trips to Pittsburgh.
Finishing his playing days here is another story.
“I don’t think I can come back to Pittsburgh. I’m sorry,” said Bonds, who was in the lineup Friday night when the Giants played the last-place Pirates. “I’ve had a good time here in Pittsburgh. I enjoyed it. … I’ve had my time here.”
Bonds might not be in San Francisco much longer either. He’s in the final season of a five-year, $90 million contract, and the often-injured slugger knows he may be more of a part-timer next season, possibly as an American League designated hitter.
Clearing the bases
David Wells, sidelined since May 26, will return to the Boston Red Sox rotation on Monday and start against the Cleveland Indians, manager Terry Francona said. … Andy Marte, the key player in Cleveland’s trade of outfielder Coco Crisp to the Boston Red Sox last winter, was recalled by the Indians from Triple-A Buffalo. … The San Diego Padres sent pitcher Chan Ho Park home to have further tests on lower digestive tract ailment. … The Atlanta Braves announced after their 6-4 loss to New York the acquisition of reliever Danys Baez and infielder Willy Aybar from the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Wilson Betemit. … The Philadelphia Phillies traded third baseman David Bell to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league right-handed pitcher Wilfrido Laureano.