Cliff Lee Chooses Phillies, Snubs Yankees & Rangers
In a shocking decision, Cliff Lee has decided to take less guaranteed money to sign with the Phillies. The Yankees and Rangers were informed late Monday night that they were both out of the running for Lee’s services.
New York’s offer to the free agent lefty was for $154 million over 7 years (the 7th being a player option), but Lee will instead sign a 5-year contract worth roughly $115 million and return to his former team in Philadelphia…
The Rangers’ offer was believed to be in the 6-year range at roughly $20 million per season, and they appeared to making a financial statement of interest similar to that of the Yankees.
In the end though, Lee is giving a slight hometown discount to the Phillies, who acquired him at the 2009 trade deadline from the Indians. His deal will include a vesting option for a 6th year.
The left-hander went 7-4 down the stretch two years ago and led the Phils to the World Series where they fell in 6 games to the Yankees. Lee will join Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels to form the most imposing rotation in baseball.
New York and Texas were believed to be the front-runners for Lee since free agency began. Both clubs were anxiously awaiting a decision after sweetening their initial proposals and putting their very best offers on the table.
But rumors of a third suitor surfaced early on Monday, and that suitor was the Phillies. A deal between the two sides “came together in a hurry” according to Lee’s agent Darek Braunecker (as reported by SI.com’s Jon Heyman).
The Rangers have now officially lost the anchor of their rotation and the man that led the franchise to its first ever World Series last season.
Meanwhile, the Yankees have failed to add easily the best starter on the free agent market, and still haven’t added a significant piece to their 2010 roster. Very rarely does New York not make a winter splash, but it’s running out of options.
The Sox signed Carl Crawford and traded for Adrian Gonzalez, Jayson Werth got more than $100 million from the Nationals, the White Sox locked up Adam Dunn, Carlos Pena signed a 1-year deal with the Cubs, and now Lee is heading back to Philly.
Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe tweeted it best early Tuesday morning: “Who’s the second best free agent starter on the market, Carl Pavano? OK, Plan C it is.”
The Yankees certainly have the money, but who can they realistically spend it on? They’re unsure if Andy Pettitte will pitch next year, and could go from potentially having three quality left-handed starters to just one in C.C. Sabathia.
I think it’s pretty safe to say that the Red Sox and Phillies will be the early favorites to meet in the Fall Classic next October. As usual, the Yanks weren’t out-bid, but they were certainly snubbed.
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