Rangers' Lee signs with Astros

Rangers' Lee signs with Astros

02:47 PM CST on Friday, November 24, 2006
Associated Press

HOUSTON - Rangers outfielder Carlos Lee, one of the top free agents
on the market, has signed with the Houston Astros, a source close to
the negotiations said Friday.

Lee signed a six-year, $100 million deal with the Astros, the source
told The Associated Press. Lee, a two-time All-Star left fielder who
played with the Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers last season, is coming
off his fifth straight season with at least 30 home runs and 99 RBIs.

The Astros have scheduled an afternoon news conference. General manager
Tim Purpura declined to comment.

Houston went into the offseason looking for help with an offense that
finished last in the NL in batting average and struggled to score runs
despite the presence of All-Star first baseman Lance Berkman, who had
45 homers and 136 RBIs and finished third in NL MVP voting.

Lee hit 28 homers in 102 games for the Brewers before the Rangers
picked him up before the trade deadline in July. His power numbers
dipped after that, but he finished with combined totals of 37 home runs
and 116 RBIs. He hit .300, including .322 in 59 games with the Rangers.


Texas grabbed Lee in a six-player trade with plans to contend for the
AL West title and sign him to a long-term deal, but neither happened.

Lee's signing was the third major free agent loss for the Rangers in
the last two weeks. Mark DeRosa, a valuable starter at several
positions, signed with the Chicago Cubs, and All-Star center fielder
Gary Matthews Jr. signed a five-year, $50 million deal with the Los
Angeles Angels this week.