The Inquisitr » Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee signs with the Phillies

Joshua Lobdell — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:53:07 +0000

Sometimes the world of baseball is a great place, sometimes the New York Yankees are made to look like fools, and yes sometimes that is a very good thing. Cliff Lee has rejoined the Philadelphia Phillies, and while many thought of that signing as a surprise we should remember he wasn’t exactly the happiest camper about being traded away from their in the first place. Now he returns and gives the Phillies one of the best starting rotations since the 1990′s Atlanta Braves, and many consider them the favorites for the World Series title in 2011.

While the Phillies are certainly a great baseball team, and while their front office has continually made moves to keep them on an elite level. All this talk about rings is a little early. Remember those great Atlanta Braves teams only actually won one World Series. However a starting rotation of Roy Halladay, Cole Hammels, Cliff Lee, and Roy Oswalt is freaking outstanding.

Many think that Lee gave up money to resign with the Phillies. While that may be true he will make 120 million dollars over the next five years. That works out to 24 million dollars a year, and there is an option for 2016 at 27.5 million if he can pitch 200 innings in 2015 or 400 between 2014 and 2015. There is also a 12.5 million dollar buyout clause. That means the contract has a total worth of 147.5 million dollars and it seems Lee will likely earn at least 132.5 million.

I really got to hand it to the Phillies front office. They don’t just spend money to spend it, they have a plan. They go out and make moves to make their team better, and when they come up short they fix the problems immediately. They have five guys singed for 2011 all making more than 15 million. Of course their club also draws big crowds so they can afford too.

Cliff Lee traded to Texas Rangers

Joshua Lobdell — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 06:39:14 +0000

All last night, and for much of today it looked like the New York Yankees had landed the biggest free agent pitcher out there, they still might but they will have to wait until after the season to make there best pitch for him. For now Cliff Lee is a member of the Texas Rangers, and even though it looks like the Rangers may have overpaid for the arm, I think there is a very different way to look at this. For now let us look at the trade details:

•The Texas Rangers get Lee, RP Mark Lowe, and 2.5 million dollars to off set the 4 million owed Lee for the remainder of 2010
•The Seattle Mariners get first baseman Justin Smoak, and three prospects reported to be Pitchers Blake Beavan and Josh Lueke, as well as 2B Matt Lawson

That is a big price to pay for a rental player, since Lee will be a free agent at the end of this season. It seems the Rangers may have gutted their farm system in an attempt to win right now. I think the Rangers are trying to prove to everyone in baseball that these are not your typical Rangers, and they may even get a pennant out of this. Adding Lee makes them the favorite to win the AL west, if they were not already, and makes this a team to watch come the playoffs.

The Rangers also have to turn their club into a free agent destination, and adding Lee, plus a good run in the playoffs could go a long way towards doing just that. Teams that have trouble attracting free agents often overpay for the first one, and then reap big rewards later. We have seen this strategy work in other cities, and it is my guess that is why they were willing to over pay for Lee. Of course they would like to resign him, but that is an argument for another day.

What will it take to get Cliff Lee?

Joshua Lobdell — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:42:28 +0000

It seems pretty clear that Cliff Lee will be available on the trade market in the month of July. He is in the final year of his contract, he likely will not be returning to the Seattle Mariners next year, and the club could use an infusion of young talent to help it rebuild. That means any team in a pennant race at the trade deadline will want to add Lee for the stretch run. That list would include the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, and maybe even the Atlanta Braves. Really any team looking to make a run at a division title will want him, and that will likely drive the price for him up.

Normally a guy who has been traded as many times as Cliff, a trade to a new team will be his fourth team in the last two year, would be damaged goods. However in Lee’s case I think he has tremendous value, and he has been on a series of struggling teams. Of course the Philadelphia Phillies chose Roy Halladay over Lee, but for the most part Lee has been dealt by bad clubs to help them get prospects or for the team to dump a large salary.

So even though he would be a rental player, I think the minimum price he would fetch on the trade market would be a team’s top pitching prospect, and very likely a top position prospect as well. Most clubs will want a chance to negotiate a new contract with him before paying such a price.

There is no clear leader in the Lee sweepstakes yet, but with at least two if not three AL Central teams looking to add an arm, it seems the Mariners will likely get two top prospects for their star pitcher.

Five best trade deadline deals

Joshua Lobdell — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:20:46 +0000

It has been nearly a month since the Non Waiver Trade deadline for Major League Baseball. Now is a good time for us to take a look at how the contenders added big time help to bolster their playoff runs. By looking at the deals and the positive efects these players have had on their new teams, we can see that the National League team helped themselves the most at the trade deadline.

The Philadelphia Phillies added starting pitcher Cliff Lee. Through five starts with the Phillies Lee is 5-0 with a .68 ERA. Lee has been outstanding for the Phillies as they look to repeat as world champions. Since the Phillies have one of the best lineups in all of baseball adding Lee seems to be one of the best moves at this year’s trading deadline.

The St. Louis Cardinals added outfield sluggger Matt Holliday. So far in St. Louis Holliday is has increased his batting average by a full 100 points. In Oakland he was batting .286 now in St. Louis he is hitting .382.

The Boston Red Sox added Catcher Victor Martinez. So far in Boston Martinez has hit 5 home runs and driven in 18 runs. This is a very nice addition to a already powerful Red Sox lineup.

Adam LaRoche returned to the Atlanta Braves and is hitting nearly .400 with 8 home runs and 18 RBI’s. Not a bad return for LaRoche.

Relief Pitcher George Sherrill came to the Dodgers to help ease the workload of a over worked bull pen. So far he has pitched 13.5 scoreless innings, not too bad.

Five best trade deadline deals is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cliff Lee to the Phillies

Joshua Lobdell — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:29:53 +0000

Unable to reach an agreement with Toronto for Pitcher Roy Halladay, the Philadelphia Phillies today traded for reining AL Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee. Cleary the Phillies are in a win now mode, while the Indians are looking to rebuild.

Before we get to all of that let us look at the details:

The Phillies get Lee, and OF Ben Francisco. While the Indians get Triple A pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco, Single A pitching prospect Jason Knapp, Catcher Lou Marson, and Short Stop Jason Donald.

While this is a power move that makes the Phillies the team to beat in the National League, it gives them four left handed pitchers. Cole Hammels remains the ace even while having a down year. Lee comes in with agin veteran Jamie Moyer, and JA Happ the other southpaws on the bump. Now Joe Blanton is the only righty on the starting staff and he will likely be the 2nd starter between Hammels and Lee.

Adding a pitcher of Lee’s stature to this club who arguably already ahve the nest lineup with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Shane Victorino cleary takes the Phillies to another level. Let us not forget they have also signed Pedro Martinez to help this staff down the stretch run and in the playoffs.

This move also speaks well for the Indians future, even though this is the second year in a row they have traded away the reining AL CY young award winner. They got a legitimate pitcher in Carrasco that will likely break into their starting five in 2010 and they picked up Marson who will one day take over the starting catchers spot from Victor Martinez.

While it may be tough for Indians fans to swallow, the Cleveland front office cleary have a plan. That plan is to trade away their pieces that were unable to win a title and get as many prospects in return.

Cliff Lee to the Phillies is a post from: The Inquisitr