Phil-Lee On the other hand, it's also not like the world is ending.
Mostly because as he's not a Texas Rangers, he's also not a New York Yankee.
Yesterday mid-morning, word came down on a significant "mystery" team being heavy hitters for Lee. Most decried that a "mystery" team was always the creation of the agent to build leverage. Turns out, the "mystery" team was very real.
It was the Philadelphia Phillies, the team that traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners last winter. By some accounts, the Cliff and his family "loved" Philadelphia and were sad to go in the first place. Now they're back.
Reason No. 2 we're not all that sad is that Lee didn't go for the most number of years or some insane amount of money. Seems like he kind of went with his heart. And if you listen to your heart, you can never lose.
The deal is worth $120 million over five years with a vesting option for $27 million for a sixth year should Lee pitch 200 innings in 2015 or 400 innings in 2014-2015.
Yes, the money helped. But we were always told that Lee wanted years, not cash. He wound up with less years (if the Rangers and Yankees were, indeed, offering seven years) and a bit more money in a city that they apparently love.
The Rangers could compete with as many years and dollars as they wanted. However, they were never going to compete with a family's affinity for a particular city or area.
Also, Lee probably doesn't mind missing out on the designated hitter for the final years of his career.
As for the Phillies, this solidifies their role as a World Series favorite. If Roy Oswalt is your No. 3 starter and Cole Hamels No. 4, it's World Series or bust.
For the Rangers, I feel like a great weight has been lifted off our shoulders. I also feel like a certain bullet has been dodged. A potential franchise-breaking contract like the one Lee wanted (or we thought he wanted) could have been the ruin of what was started last season. A bum back or shoulder could've caused a ripple effect that would've taken a decade to overcome again. That's not a place I wanted to go. Not with the light finally shining through.
The Rangers competed without Lee for half a season last year and I suspect they'll do the same without him this year. Remember, Colby Lewis beat the Yankees twice. The Rangers have a lot more options than some other teams and I think with this leadership they can still get better without Cliff Lee.
But whatever you do, do not sign Adrian Beltre!
