I think Yankees fans need to understand, a lot of players don't actually want to play for the Yankees, nor come to NYC. They are milking the system, and when you see Cliff Lee asking for 6 years, its just that. He's going to make financially as lucrative as he can. There was a great editorial on espn.com yesterday/today about Cliff Lee making money priority and championships secondary. No doubt the Yankees would give him the best chance to annually be in the post-season, but you have to make it enticing enough for a guy to come.

I think the Yankees will eventually cave to his demands. The worst that will happen is that Texas will pay him tops for 3-4 years.

The Yankees will cave to his demands because there is no other 'uber' quality front line pitchers on the market....
He had a great post season, till the WS, and seemed to come into his own over the last year or so....
but he has some 'arm?' issues, and is at the tail end of his prime, as far as pitchers go....

I have no problem with the Yanks spending $$$$.. They generate it. They pay their luxury tax. They put into revenue sharing...They play by the rules set forth by baseball..

But i think this Cliff lee 'eventual' deal, will be moe about the Yankees making their annual splash in the free agency market, and they are gonna get bit in the ass if they give him anything more than 3-4 years.....if that...

Slight correction: I guess the Brave's intention is to play Chipper at third and Prado in left.

I don't agree with your read on it. I think he may very well want to play for the Yankees. He and his wife are very close to the Sabathias and CC loves playing in NY. The idea of anyone giving a discount to sign with NY is ludicrous though and a market contract for a pitcher of Cliff Lee's ilk is $20+ annually for 5 years or more. I fully expect the Texas Rangers and the Nationals to offer him contracts above that as well as the Yankees.

As far as my own opinion goes, I'd prefer to not go six years but could probably live with it. I'd refuse to go 7 but my guess is it won't take 7 years. The Yankees are obviously very motivated having been willing to trade Montero at the deadline for him even as a rental. With Pettitte apparently leaning to retirement, Hughes a potential Verducci rules threat, Burnett awful last year, two vacancies to fill, and at least a potential threat that CC has an out in contract after next year, they will go hard for Lee and be willing to overpay. I'd rather they overpay for Cliff Lee than give a guy like de La Rosa a bigger contract than he really deserves.
I also think filling one front line vacancy with Lee prevents them from having to trade away top prospects like the 3 B's or Montero for a starter. Viewed in that light, it may actually save them money to overpay Lee as those guys could potentially cheaply fill key spots for years to come that otherwise would have to be filled by much higher priced veterans.

The Sabathias and the Lees might be friends, but like CC, Lee isn't going to come to NY unless the deal is right, which is why CC demanded the terms he got. Much has been published about both Cliff and his wife's apprehension about NY. I don't think I mentioned him giving them a break on salary.

My point is this, baseball is a business and there are very few players who will have the resolve to stay with a team no matter what. Who knows if Lee is that way. He might want to stay closer to Arkansas. Who knows. But let's not kid ourselves--most players don't go to NY because they're in love with the team. They go for 2 reasons: statistically the best chance to get to the post-season, and most importantly, the money. I'm not saying that's wrong because, hey, if the money is there and you don't mind being in the constant limelight, then definitely take it. Personally, I have no doubt he'll become a Yankee. I hope I'm wrong (because I'm an O's fan).

99% of players pick a team because of money and/or chance of post season appearances...

That's been my point. But, is Lee that type of guy?

I wasn't saying you did. I was emphasizing that Lee will get top dollar and years no matter who he ends up signing with. I don't think players sign for discounts very often anywhere and certainly not in NY which has no case to make that they have limited resources. Where I was disagreeing with you was with this:



Of course he wants a market contract. CC got 7 years from the Yankees. Johan Santana got 6 years. Even AJ Burnett got 5 years. Cliff Lee is not signing with anyone for 3-4 years and there is no reason he should. He isn't milking the system or using the Yankees when he demands that. He's just asking for a market contract. Even if the Yankees decided they had no interest in Lee, someone would sign him for at least five years and I bet the Nationals would offer 6 and maybe even 7.



The only thing I've read negative about NY was about fans treating his wife badly during the playoffs (which is kinda a bs story) and I think I've been following the stories pretty closely. Obviously the Lee camp is not going to say anything to make the Yankees seem anything but a serious suitor but the stories I've read in the NY press have all mentioned how much they like the city.



Clearly those are very important factors and there are some people who really just don't want to play in that much of a spotlight or have to deal with the NY press. There are others who really want to play on the biggest stage though and that is NY. Also, you are quick to dismiss that while for years the clubhouse and organization had a negative reputation around the league, it has really turned around in the last 3-5 years. It's a close knit team with lots of support from above and most of the players there really seem to love to play for the Yankees. Plus the stadium and all of its facilities are a great recruiting tool as well.

gonzalez and crawford. nice.

crawford
pedroia
youkilis
gonzalez
ortiz
drew
lowrie
salty/tek
ellsbury

I don't get this signing. (1) I think it is foolish to give a 7 year contract to a player whose greatest attribute -- speed -- is likely to decline halfway through the contract. (2) One of his greatest sources of value is his ability to cover a lot of ground in LF and that is largely negated by the small LF at Fenway. Sure, he makes Boston better in the short term but it doesn't seem like a good use of resources to me.

just heard yankees upped their offer to 7 years for lee, which effectively eliminates the rangers from the mix

rangers now redirecting their efforts toward a trade for zach greinke