Lee Spurns Yankees, Heads Back to Philly

Transcript by Newsy

BY J.J. BAILEY

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After a wild free agency had him seeing green, Cliff Lee is back in red. The 32-year-old ace turned down offers from the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers to sign with his former team.



“Can you believe a guy turned down tens of millions of dollars to go to Philadelphia? Lovely city, but for this much money? Cliff lee, the most sought after free-agent pitcher, surprised about everybody, when he turned down a $148 million offer from the New York Yankees to play in Philly for about $30 million less.” (HLN)



Whether fans support his decision or not, one question seems to be universal: Did the Yankees just lose a free agency battle? ESPN New York’s Andrew Marchand says they didn’t get out bid, they got flat-out denied.



When you offer somebody more than $150 million, it shows how much you want them. They wanted Cliff Lee badly, they didn’t get him so they’re definitely disappointed. It was rare that a general manager comes into a Winter meeting and says ‘we’ve targeted one guy’ and in the case of the Yankees it was Cliff Lee and they have all that money and he said no to them. This is the second time in a sense that he has been on the doorstep and not gone to New York.



But was Lee’s decision to head back to Philly based solely on loyalty? A writer for NBC Sports says look closer, Lee isn’t leaving much money on the table.



“…under the Phillies deal, he could make a lot more money in year six if things go well for him than he would have if he took the Yankees’ deal, for he will be a free agent in year six rather than be “stuck” with a $22 million one-year deal.. …this was less an act of selflessness on Cliff Lee's part…than it was a gamble on himself."



But whether it was out of Brotherly Love or shrewd accounting, Lee’s return has many predicting another World Series for the Phils. With Lee joining Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt, they will have two Cy Young winners and four pitchers good enough to lead most rotations.



“You know this rotation, I’m hard-pressed to find a rotation any better. When you’re looking at thes four guys, every one of these guys could be a number one starter on any particular club in the major leagues. So that’s what makes this rotation special, and I can not think of a rotation in the last 30 years that stacks up to the one that the Phillies have put together.” (MLB.com)



So, is Cliff Lee taking a pay cut for happiness, or is the 32-year-old betting on himself in 2017? And now that he’s in town, are the Phillies a lock for the World Series?

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4. Added :14-Dec-10
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