NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Texas Rangers made a major move in their bid to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999 by acquiring All-Star pitcher Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners on Friday.
Seattle shipped the 2008 Cy Young Award-winning southpaw along with right-handed reliever Mark Lowe to the A.L. West-leading Rangers for first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers.
The trade followed a failed attempt to deal Lee to the New York Yankees earlier on Friday, the Rangers said on their website (http://texas.rangers.mlb.com).
Lee, a two-time All-Star, was traded to Seattle in December by the N.L. champion Philadelphia Phillies. The 31-year-old had just 13 starts with Seattle, going 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA.
The crafty left-hander has a 98-55 record with a 3.84 ERA over nine major league seasons.
Smoak, the Rangers' number one draft pick in 2008, is hitting .209 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 70 games for Texas this season.
The Rangers have a 50-35 record this season and lead the West by 5.5 games over second-placed Los Angeles.
(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Ian Ransom)
