Texas Rangers: Milwaukee Brewers Land Outfielder Lorenzo Cain

The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly agreed to terms with outfielder Lorenzo Cain. The Texas Rangers were rumored to be in the running for Cain.

The hot stove may finally be heating up. One of the highest prized free agents of this winter is off the market. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Thursday night that the Brewers landed the outfielder. The deal is reported to be for $80 million over five years.

The Texas Rangers were rumored to be highly interested in Lorenzo Cain, who would’ve bolstered the current Texas outfield. Cain is a solid two-way player who can handle the bat and play reliable defense.

General manager Jon Daniels has downplayed that Texas would play at the top of the free agent market this winter. When rumors surfaced that the Rangers were interested in Cain, that came to a bit of a surprise given Daniels’ stance for the money they’d spend on free agents.

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The Texas Rangers have been open to adding players that improve the team’s defense, which Cain certainly would. However, it was unlikely the Rangers were going to pay market value for an outfielder.

The Rangers are more interested in letting younger players that are already here get playing time in the outfield. This means getting a good look at guys like Delino DeShields, Ryan Rua, and Willie Calhoun. The only way Texas would’ve gone away from this plan is if an impact free agent like Cain would’ve come to Arlington on a bargain. That scenario was highly unlikely.

With everything said, Cain going elsewhere doesn’t affect the Rangers’ primary plans going into 2018. Jon Daniels is going to let the players he has play. While it would’ve been a nice addition to the Texas outfield, it obviously was not a price the front office was willing to pay for Cain.