Texas Rangers lose their bid to sign on Cliff Lee
Not all stories end with a happy conclusion and for the Texas Rangers that was exactly the case. The side that was close to winning the World Series this year lost its bid as the San Francisco Giants took the hot seat away from
the American League Champions. The team, nevertheless, did make history by entering the competition for the first time since their inauguration. One man who led the side so far to the competition was none other than Cliff Lee. The top pitcher featured in 5
playoff fixtures and won the first 3 games to get the Texans to the last stage.
Lee was a symbol of change in Texas and when he went to the free agency in November, there was a possibility of seeing the ball star return. It felt like the New York Yankees were going to be the hard contenders for the pitcher’s
services, but that didn’t prove to be the right assessment of the day as Cliff moved to the National League to join the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Rangers were heartbroken by the news and it made sense, given the importance he gave to the club, in their struggle for the title in the American League West table. The Texans will be aching with the turn of events. President
of the club, Nolan Ryan, was optimistic about the player’s return but nothing worked out at the end. Rangers General Manager, Jon Daniels made the news known to the fans on Monday.
"Cliff called me," Jon Daniels said. "He was very classy. He was very appreciative of the time he was here and how he was treated. He and his family enjoyed his time here. He also enjoyed his time in Philadelphia and
liked some of the things that opportunity had to offer.
"We would have liked to have him back, but we weren't able to find terms that made sense. Cliff will always be a part of the most exciting and special year in Rangers history. It's time to move on and look at a variety of ways
to improve the club."
The Rangers will now be without a premier pitcher in the rotation. However, there still exists an option to trade a couple of players for Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals. On the other hand, Carl Pavano is still in the market
and his availability could help Texas get back to their form.
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