ARLINGTON, Texas -- Wanting the big bat now and hoping to

keep him longer, the Texas Rangers acquired All-Star slugger Carlos

Lee from the Milwaukee Brewers in a six-player deal Friday.

Milwaukee traded Lee after it became apparent that the

outfielder wasn't interested in staying there after this season

when he can become a free agent.

"Carlos is an impact bat that we need right now," Rangers

general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's a middle-of-the-order

hitter, a run producer, big makeup, leader, just entering his

prime. We feel strongly he can be a big piece for us as we make a

run at the pennant."

The Brewers got reliever Francisco Cordero and outfielders Kevin

Mench and Laynce Nix, and minor league left-hander Julian Cordero --

no relation to Francisco. Minor league outfielder Nelson Cruz also

went to the Rangers and was added to their major league roster.

Lee arrived about 35 minutes before Friday night's game against Kansas City and started, batting fourth as the designated hitter behind Michael Young and Mark Teixeira. Manager Buck Showalter plans to use Lee primarily as an outfielder.

It was the first major deal completed in the days leading up to

Monday's non-waiver trade deadline. Because of his potential to

become a free agent, Lee was considered one of the biggest trade

targets.

Brewers GM Doug Melvin started entertaining offers after Lee and

his agent, Adam Katz, on Thursday turned down a four-year extension

reportedly worth $48 million.

"Because they never countered to us and said there was a large

gap, we don't know what it was they were looking for," Melvin

said. "It was probably the years, because the dollars we offered

were very significant to any deal we've ever offered before."

Melvin said he talked to six teams about Lee but settled on the

Rangers because of the "major-league-ready" players involved and

his familiarity with them. Melvin acquired Mench, Nix and Francisco

Cordero in Texas when he was the GM there.

Lee hit .286 with 28 home runs and 81 RBI in 102 games for

Milwaukee, already his fifth straight season with at least 25

homers. Lee is a .284 career hitter over eight seasons with the

Chicago White Sox (1999-2004) and Milwaukee (2005-06).

Before Lee's addition, Brad Wilkerson led the Rangers with 15

homers, one more than Teixeira, and Young had a team-high 67 RBI.

"It was a little shocking," said Young, a three-time All-Star.

"It's really the first time since I've been here ... the first

[deal] that opens your eyes and says this team is changing

course."

After completing the trade, Daniels told Lee and Katz of the

team's desire for a deal past this season.

"I hope he comes in here and is comfortable, and we're

comfortable with him. We'll explore a contract down the line,"

Daniels said. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves right now.

We've got games to win."

Texas went into Friday's game against Kansas City in third place

in the AL West, but only two games behind division-leading Oakland.

The Rangers haven't been to the playoffs since 1999.

The Rangers recalled right-hander Josh Rupe from Triple-A

Oklahoma on Friday, to solidify the bullpen after Cordero's

departure. Rupe was 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in 18 minor league

appearances.

Outfielder Freddy Guzman was optioned to Oklahoma. He has

appeared in eight games in two stints with Texas.

Francisco Cordero, an All-Star two years ago when he set a team

record with 49 saves, was the Texas closer until he set a major

league record with five blown saves in April. Akinori Otsuka took

over that role. In his last appearance for Texas, Cordero allowed

four runs in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees on

Wednesday night. The right-hander was 7-4 with six saves and a 4.81

ERA in 49 appearances.

Brewers manager Ned Yost said Cordero gives him a choice late in

games. Embattled closer Derrick Turnbow, an All-Star this year, is

0-4 and allowed 14 earned runs over 4 2/3 innings (26.98 ERA) his

last nine appearances.

"Production will decide who closes ball games," Yost said.

Mench hit .284 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI in 87 games, going

16-for-36 (.444) his last 10 games in Texas. Earlier this season,

Mench set a club record with home runs in seven straight games, one

short of the major league record but the most by a right-handed

hitter.

Nix, who has played 240 major league games for Texas over the

past four seasons, has been in the minor leagues since batting .094

(3-for-32) in nine games in April.

Trading Lee made sense for the budget-conscious Brewers because

they have several highly regarded young outfield prospects --

although Cruz was considered the most promising.

Cruz was the Brewers' minor league player of the year last

season. He hit .302 with 22 doubles, 20 home runs, 73 RBI and 17

stolen bases in 104 games at Triple-A Nashville this year.

Showalter said Cruz would start in right field Saturday night.

The Brewers entered play Friday six games out of the National

League wild card, with five teams ahead of them in the standings.