Phillies emerge as legitimate suitor for Lee

stevek

Phillies emerge as legitimate suitor for Lee

By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com | 12/13/10 10:21 PM EST
PHILADELPHIA -- Could Cliff Lee rejoin the Phillies?

There is a chance.

Sources confirmed reports on Monday that the Phillies are a legitimate suitor in the Lee sweepstakes. They likely are offering less money than the Yankees and Rangers -- the other teams in the hunt -- but Lee thoroughly enjoyed his time in Philadelphia in 2009, and in the past has indicated to teammates that he would like to rejoin the organization.

"All I can say is, I'm not going to comment either way," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said on Monday night.

The Phillies have nearly $150 million committed to 17 players next season, so they would need to clear payroll for Lee. A source said that the Phillies have been shopping Joe Blanton in recent days, and also said that the Phillies would be willing to eat some of Blanton's salary to foster a trade. Blanton is owed $17 million over the next two seasons.

The source also said that the Phillies have been gauging teams' interest in Kyle Kendrick and Raul Ibanez. Ibanez makes $11.5 million this season before becoming a free agent.

Lee was stunned last December when the Phillies traded him to Seattle. He did not want to leave, but at the time, his agent indicated that he would be incredibly difficult to sign to an extension. So the Phillies acquired Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays and shipped Lee to the Mariners for three prospects.

Lee likely would leave millions of dollars on the table if he signed with the Phillies, but he would be returning to a place he enjoys and joining one of the most dominant rotations in recent memory, with Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

stevek

Anyone who thinks the Phillies are going away, better think again!

stevek

Yankees told they're out of Lee sweepstakes; signs point to Phils Story Highlights

The Phils were revealed Monday to be the third "mystery team" after Cliff Lee
The Phillies aren't expected to be able to match the Yankees or Rangers
But multiple sources say the lefty might take less to pitch for the Phillies


The Yankees have been told they are out of the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, and signs are pointing that the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner will sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies suddenly entered the picture on Monday when they were revealed Monday to be the "mystery team" that has been pursuing Lee for the past few days.

Multiple baseball sources have suggested that if they can put together a reasonable offer, there's an excellent chance Lee will leave tens of millions of dollars on the table and sign with them. Lee's decision is expected soon, perhaps by Tuesday.

Lee, a 32-year-old left-hander, is 102-62 with a 3.85 earned run average over nine seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Phillies, Seattle Mariners and Rangers. In his best season, the two-time All-Star went 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA for the Indians in 2008.

The battle for Lee was seen for weeks as a competition between the goliath Yankees and the Rangers, with New York offering a seven-year deal for what is believed to be between $150 million and $160 million, and Texas offering a six-year deal with an option guaranteeing at least $120 million.

The Phillies and Lee are believed to only have talked parameters for now, but they are far enough along that sources believe a deal could come down fairly quickly. Whatever they propose, it's expected to be less than either the Yankees' and Rangers' offers; some think Lee could be giving up $50 million or more if he returns to Philadelphia.

Lee is said to have absolutely loved his brief time with the Phillies in 2009, when he pitched them into the World Series, and won two games against the Yankees. People close to Lee say he envisions himself as No. 2 in a rotation with Roy Halladay at the top, Roy Oswalt pitching third and Cole Hamels fourth. If that happens, they might well have the best No. 1 pitcher in baseball, the best No. 2, the best No. 3 and the best No. 4.

Philadelphia offered him a three-year deal for about $54 million after the 2009 season. When he turned it down, the Phillies dealt him to Seattle as part of a four-team, nine-player swap while simultaneously acquiring Halladay from Toronto and signing him to a new contract that added $60 million over three seasons.

The Yankees were seen as the favorite with their $150 million-plus bid, but some also thought the Rangers had a decent shot with a $120 million-plus offer, the chance to pitch some four hours from his home in Little Rock, Ark., and the camaraderie of the Texas clubhouse.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

stevek

<<< Yankees told they're out of Lee sweepstakes >>>

oh those poor, poor Yankees.

stevek

If reading this thread, I sincerely ask that you please, pretty please, take a moment and hope that the Yankees aren't going through too much anguish over this - I feel so bad for the Yankees and their fans.

stevek

<<< If that happens, they might well have the best No. 1 pitcher in baseball, the best No. 2, the best No. 3 and the best No. 4. >>>

Let's get it done.

Mphilking

ESPN is reporting it's done Lee is signing after physical.

thenavarro

Congrats to the Phillies! I would have loved to have him back here in Texas, but hey, if we were going to lose him, I'd much rather him be a Phillie then a Yankee.

grote15

I guess for SteveK it's ok if his team throws big bucks at free agents but when a team like Yankees do it, it's bad for baseball...LOL..

jivan

phillies in 09......nope.......phillies in 10.....nope...phillies in 11....?????

ctsoxfan

<< <i>If reading this thread, I sincerely ask that you please, pretty please, take a moment and hope that the Yankees aren't going through too much anguish over this - I feel so bad for the Yankees and their fans. >>



I feel bad for them. No really, I do.

WTCG

Cliff who?

Is this the same Cliff Lee who went 4-6 with the Rangers and lost twice in a 5-game World Series to a team that supposedly couldn't hit?

It's amazing how because the Yankees wanted him the NY media built him up to almost demigod status. It's really a lot of cash for a pitcher who's much ado about nothing.

Saberman

<< <i><<< If that happens, they might well have the best No. 1 pitcher in baseball, the best No. 2, the best No. 3 and the best No. 4. >>>

Let's get it done.

>>




And a rapidly declining clean up hitter who is nowhere near this mythical clutch God that the meat heads proclaim he is.

But alas, he gets another great teammate to make them win...and he can continue to be inferior to many other 1B, but since the great teammates will make them win again, it will fool all the meatheads AGAIN into thinking he 'knows how to win',LOL.

He just doesn't know how to avoid making the final out in the playoffs with men on base.

Connecticoin

Wow, $120 million for 5 years. Lee is good, but still a step below Sabathia and Santana when they signed their contracts.

Prediction: Lackey will have a better 2011 than Lee --- you heard it here first!

Garabaldi

Lee left alot of $$$ on the table to sign with the Phils. He was smart because he left the AL and does not have to pitch constantly in the AL East.

stevek

<< <i>

<< <i><<< If that happens, they might well have the best No. 1 pitcher in baseball, the best No. 2, the best No. 3 and the best No. 4. >>>

Let's get it done.

>>




And a rapidly declining clean up hitter who is nowhere near this mythical clutch God that the meat heads proclaim he is.

But alas, he gets another great teammate to make them win...and he can continue to be inferior to many other 1B, but since the great teammates will make them win again, it will fool all the meatheads AGAIN into thinking he 'knows how to win',LOL.

He just doesn't know how to avoid making the final out in the playoffs with men on base. >>



Hey meathead - Ryan Howard had an off year due to injuries and he still finished tenth in the MVP voting.

How many times did your silly comparison to Ryan Howard...Dave Kingman...finish tenth or better in the MVP voting? I'll give you a clue...it's zero. LOL

Saberman

He finished 10th because they came in first place. They came in first place because of having great teammates. Writers are stupid at evaluating baseball, and good at making stories and constructing sentences, so it is understandable why he would get MVP votes, and understandable why a loser gambler follows them as gospel.

I thought he was clutch? What happened to his mythical clutch ability you have always proclaimed?? Why didnt' he call upon it instead of striking out to end the playoffs?


Yes, he is on the Kingman road fast. Howard had a couple of seasons that Kingman never had, and in the end, that will be the only difference between the two(once one knows how to account for the era they played in, home parks, and role of teammates on RBI's).

stevek

<< <i>He finished 10th because they came in first place. They came in first place because of having great teammates. Writers are stupid at evaluating baseball, and good at making stories and constructing sentences, so it is understandable why he would get MVP votes, and understandable why a loser gambler follows them as gospel.

I thought he was clutch? What happened to his mythical clutch ability you have always proclaimed?? Why didnt' he call upon it instead of striking out to end the playoffs?


Yes, he is on the Kingman road fast. Howard had a couple of seasons that Kingman never had, and in the end, that will be the only difference between the two(once one knows how to account for the era they played in, home parks, and role of teammates on RBI's). >>



So the self-proclaimed forum genius thinks he's smarter than the sports writers?

<<< a couple >>>

A couple? It was more than a couple. and Howard's career is far from over. You truly don't have a clue do you? But I'll give you credit where credit is due, you regurgitate Bill James better than anyone I have ever seen. LOL

Ryan Howard:
MVP (yr lg (rk, shr))
2006 NL (1, 87%)
2007 NL (5, 25%)
2008 NL (2, 69%)
2009 NL (3, 48%)
2010 NL (10, 11%)
1 MVP
2.40 Career Shares (65th)

Dave Kingman:
MVP (yr lg (rk, shr))
1972 NL (24, 1%)
1975 NL (19, 3%)
1976 NL (18, 3%)
1979 NL (11, 16%)
1984 AL (13, 3%)
0.26 Career Shares (647th)

Saberman

mvp rank is meaningless in determining how good a player is/was. MVP is too closely tied to the performance of the team, and it is voted based on mostly meaningless criteria.

And it is voted on by people who don't have a clue on evaluating a player. The guys who vote on it are only good at creating stories, and how to put together a sentence...NOT evaluating a baseball player.


I rarely quote, or use Bill James material.

I rely on valid objective evidence, as that is king.

You are right, Howard's career is not done. It will continue to be a downhill slide, and it could get ugly fast. We saw his best already. Brace yourself for his worst.


But, it probably doesn't even matter going forward, because if the Phillies keep signing the premier players, YOU could probably play first base for them and they will still contend for the World Series(unless other players also experience a drop in play, which is possible).

stevek

<< <i>mvp rank is meaningless in determining how good a player is/was. MVP is too closely tied to the performance of the team, and it is voted based on mostly meaningless criteria.

And it is voted on by people who don't have a clue on evaluating a player. The guys who vote on it are only good at creating stories, and how to put together a sentence...NOT evaluating a baseball player.


I rarely quote, or use Bill James material.

I rely on valid objective evidence, as that is king.

You are right, Howard's career is not done. It will continue to be a downhill slide, and it could get ugly fast. We saw his best already. Brace yourself for his worst.


But, it probably doesn't even matter going forward, because if the Phillies keep signing the premier players, YOU could probably play first base for them and they will still contend for the World Series(unless other players also experience a drop in play, which is possible). >>



<<< YOU could probably play first base for them >>>

and I'd certainly play for a lot less money...I might even play for free just to get my pic on a baseball card. LOL

Saberman

It really is a pretty good time to be a Phillies fan.