Courting Lee For many, the fervor of their favorite sport begins right after the season ends with baseball fans. It's hot stove time. Internet rumors and columnists writing about what teams need and who is going where for how much.
When Cruz struck out, I'm sure GM Jon Daniels and president Nolan Ryan hung their head for a moment and then almost went immediately to work.
Teams have five days of exclusive negotiations with their free agents. After that time, they go into the great free-agent pool for everyone's perusal.
The Rangers have five days to talk to Cliff Lee. It won't be enough. He'll enter into free agency and see where the bidding takes his services.
I don't think money is Lee's sole requirement. But he also won't sign for $60 million less than the highest bid.
Let's face it, the New York Yankees will drive negotiations and teams like hte Texas Rangers will strive to keep up. Maybe they get close and work the "Hey, we're right next to your home in Arkansas," "Hey, we have excellent deer hunting" and "Hey, we didn't spit at your wife" cards.
Maybe it'll do the trick. Maybe not.
I believe that Lee is really good and that the Rangers must do everything in there power to get him. One thing I don't think they should do is overpay.
I realize that Tom Hicks is gone and that there's new ownership and new cash. Remember, Hicks was once the freewheelin', check-writing idiot giving cash to Alex Rodriguez and Chan Ho Park. He wasn't afraid to spent money, he went broke and the team went to crap.
Putting all your chips on the first hand for Chuck Greenberg and Co.
Also, Lee's not the only cog that will look to get paid. Nellie Cruz, C.J. Wilson and Josh Hamilton will look for raises. Potentially, a long-term deal could be online for Hamilton.
Then, you'll need to spend some money on possibly (probably) another starting, some bullpen help, outfield help, bench help and more.
The good news is that Rich Harden is gone. Vlad Guerrero's $9 million is now gone. The Rangers have the new fancy TV deal and attendance not only went up 15 percent this year, but it'll probably go up another 15 percent or more next year. There's cash to be had. Cash to be made.
No, there aren't a ton of free agents to re-sign, but there's money to be spent and I don't want to look back in 2016 to this moment when the Rangers backed up the truck and emptied the bank for Lee.
Lee is 32. He'll expect a six-year deal worth $20 million a year not unlike CC Sabathia's deal the the Yankees. Maybe the Yanks aren't interested. They have to hammer out a deal for Derek Jeter. If they really wanted Lee, wouldn't they have upped their trade offer to the Mariners?
Frankly, six years and $120 million scares me. It scares me like A-Rod's contract scares me now. Lee is worth it, however. I just don't want to hate Chuck Greenberg like I hate Tom Hicks.
It's good to be aggressive and wise.
