This.......is.........amazing.
Sunday night, the Cliff Lee suitors were known to be the Yankees, the Rangers, and some "mystery team." 24 hours later, that "mystery team," the Philadelphia Phillies, signs Cliff Lee to 5 year, $107.5M deal with a 6th year vesting option and a $12.5M buyout, for a guaranteed $120M. There's your mystery team, for you! All that matters now is that the Ruben Amaro, Jr. does not trade Cole Hamels, whose contract is up after the 2011 season, in a salary dump along with the inevitable Joe Blanton salary dump trade.
The Yankees offered 6 years, $138M with a $16M player option for the 7th. The Rangers had offered 6 years, %138 with a $23M vesting option for the 7th. Instead, he took less money and less years to go to Philadelphia, spurning the Yankees and the Union in the process. And it's not just about the championships, either. Cliff Lee could have gone to New York and the Yankees would be instant World Series contender. Some may say they will be, regardless. But think of where the Phillies were 10 years ago. And now reflect on what happened today. A baseball player spurned the Yankees because he wanted to play in Philadelphia. How amazing is that.
It is great to celebrate the addition of a 4th ace. And thee fact that we now have the Fantastic Four (or Phantastic Phour) and R2C2 instead of H2O. And the fact that the Phillies have now arguably the best starting rotation since the Braves of the 1990s with Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz. But really, just think about what was mentioned above. It truly is the most amazing part about this whole thing.
Yeah. Cliff Lee is once again a Philadelphia Phillie. That just happened.
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