Such a thing is bad PR, but by no means a certainty that Cliff Lee won’t succumb to the allure of money like so many of us do. That is by no means a certainty that Lee wouldn’t take money from a franchise other than the Yankees who could offer him a better deal than what the Rangers will offer him. Outside of the Yankees, that list grows short. The Rangers would probably be the best option for him if that team can capitalize and become a perennial playoff contender, something the Red Sox, White Sox, Mets or Cubs could not promise him. The Yankees have an aging core and problems that exist outside their starting rotation.

but this would be similar to Maddux in 92 who took 5 million less ( when that was a LOT of money) to sign with the Braves over the Yankees. It was clear after, that Maddux had simply allowed Boras to use the Yankees to drive up the price from the Braves and never really wanted to play there.

I didn’t realize that they severed ties with Josh Lewin. As I’ve said before, he’s not my cup of tea when it comes to broadcasters, but he is a sincerely nice person. Assuming he gets another full time job, it will be his fifth team.

I think that Lee will be a Ranger next year, especially considering he will get similar money (state tax free) and will be on a team that is coming off of a WS appearance (and my money is on them winning it)

per CNN Money:
Comparable salary in
New York (Manhattan), NY
$48,017,621
Comparable salary in
New York (Brooklyn), NY
$40,264,317
Comparable salary in
New York (Queens), NY
$35,132,158

granted he wouldnt be living full time in any of these cities (nor Dallas which is where I used for comparison) but it does show that he will have to pay out the wazoo to stay in NYC during the season.

I think that the Lee signing will go well into mid-December and he might not become signed until shortly before Christmas. It’s going to be like the Texeira signing. Just when it seemed like Tex was going to Baltimore or Boston, he goes to New York. I think the same thing will happen with Lee. I wouldn’t count out Philadelphia making a move either.

Which would leave the Yankees desperate to trade for a high end starting pitcher.

Silva is the gift that may keep on giving .. but how much of the bounce back remains to be seen.

I don’t know if the Cubs need to revisit Ted Lilly once more. They should never have let him go. I’d be happy to see him resigned .. and maybe Kerry Wood will give us an inside angle once again.