ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler exchanged some text messages with his old friend Cliff Lee on Tuesday night.

Lee's text to Kinsler said: "It was great playing with you. Sorry, but see you in the World Series."

Kinsler, one of the players on hand for the special showing of the team DVD "It's Time," texted his former teammate: "Uncle. It's about time you made a decision."

Kinsler could joke with Lee because he was one of the pitcher's closest friends on the Rangers last year. He wished that the 32-year-old lefty was returning to Texas. Lee finalized a five-year, $120 million contract with the Phillies on Wednesday.

"I'm happy for the guy," Kinsler said. "It's disappointing that he's not going to be wearing a Rangers uniform next year. But that's the great thing about free agency. He's earned that right and he's at a place that he obviously wanted to be at."

Kinsler said Lee will certainly be missed.

"With him compared to without him is a big difference," Kinsler said. "But we have a lot of young players that are very capable of filling that spot. A lot of those guys need to grow up quicker than maybe if we had Cliff. But we have guys with a lot of talent and a lot of guys that want to be in that position. So they're going to get opportunities to step up. The offseason isn't over yet, so other moves might be made. But we have guys capable of filling that spot."

Rangers pitcher Tommy Hunter echoed those sentiments.

"He was a class act," Hunter said. "He takes care of the younger guys. He was a leader."

Hunter, another friend who went hunting with Lee in Arkansas while the winter meetings were going on, is looking forward to facing his former teammate during interleague play next season. The Rangers and Phillies face each other on May 20-22 in Philadelphia.