WHY IT'S LEE TIME

Dec 1, 2010: UPDATE ON CLIFF LEE. Brought you by the Bronx Baseball Daily. The Rangers are about to offer Lee a 5 year deal. Read it HERE.

Nov 28, 2010: Expect the Lee talk's to heat up this week, big time. The Yanks are aiming high and the Rangers are all about location, location, location. Both sides will have appealing offers, but for the Yankees sake, it's all about the money, and hopefully money will talk.

The very worst part of this whole scenerio though is this: If the Yanks are about the dump all this money on a possible number 1 starter in Cliff Lee, Doesn't that send a bad messsage to Derek Jeter? Their keeping the price low for a veteran Jeet that has led the Yankees to 5 championships. It seems like bad business doesn't it? I think so, then again, Jeter's request is obscene. In the end, you need to understand the cruel fact that Lee will get the wins for Yankees in 2010 and Jeter and his age are a big question mark. Will Jeter hit .300 next year? Yes he will, but coming off season a horrible 2009, it's hard to argue with the Yankees offer. It's sad, but it's true.

Right now, there are several teams interested in Cliff Lee. Lee is looking for a seven-year contract worth upwards of $20 million annually. The years are too much. I don't think anyone is willing to give him 7 years. I think I'd give him 6. Will it get nasty between teams as they try and get the best free agent right now? Yes, a bidding war, money piling on, a few P.R. quotes, a lot will be happening, especially as we get close to the Winter Meetings.

According to Buster Olney, “Executives involved in the bidding…believe the negotiations will gather momentum in the week ahead, perhaps to a point where the All-Star left-hander will choose his next employer sometime during the winter meetings that start Dec. 6.”

The Yankees look to have the upper hand, and will offer something ridiculous. And it makes easy sense that Lee will take the bait. He'll have the money, a chance to win a championship, his best friend CC, and most likely a standing "O" from everyone at Yankee Stadium on opening day.

Texas appears ready to match whatever money Yanks will offer, plus, they have the Rangers playoff run fresh in their heads, and a "pitch" from Nolan Ryan of the great state of Texas, employment closer to Arkansas, Lee's home.

The Yankees have amazing powers to woo any player, plus Cash is a genius when it comes to last minute suprises for the Yankee Fans. The Yankees beat out Boston for A-Rod. We all got a surprise the day Mark Teixeira was signed, We woke up to Johnny B. Good coming to New York after the Sox refused to pay him. Hell, on paper, the signing of Carl Pavano choosing NY over Boston was a great victory. (Too bad he was a disaster). Hopefully a Lee signing will be a nice addition.

Bottom Line, Money talks, Bullshit walks. Hopefully it talks fast so we can concentrate on the other big fish, Derek Sanderson Jeter. Time's a ticking.

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