I want Cliff Lee, but if he wants Texas, so be it

Good e-migo Maury Brown tweeted this not that long ago, and he’s right:

After lat night, if the Yankees add an eighth year to their offer, this will be more about losing to the Rangers than getting Cliff Lee.

The Yankees are in bed with over $618 million of committments through 2018, just ahead of Evil Empire II who are now on the hook for?almost the same amount over the same period of time:

The Red Sox have $594.75 million in salary commitments through 2018, not quite $19 million less than the Yankees’ $613.28 million. The Yankees’ committed dollars are just a little more than 3% greater than those of the Red Sox.

This should not be “CLIFF LEE AT ANY COST”. It just shouldn’t, but it feels like it’s turning into just that. Sure, if Lee stays in Texas, it’s possible Pettitte decides to hang ‘em up, too. That would leave two gaping holes in the rotation. Cashman could very easily* try to?trade the entire farm system for Zack Greinke or lefties Johan Santana or Francisco Liriano. We’ll address that if it comes to that, to be sure.

* It would be easy to try, not easy to execute; just wanted to make that clear.

My colleague Larry, in discussing the success of the RedSox over the last week, puts it quite well and we can adapt the rational thought for Cliff Lee:

As a Yankees fan, all I can say is congratulations. There’s no way I can feel bitter about the Sox’s success in this week’s winter meetings. The Sox did what the Yankees usually do (and may still do, before this post-season is over): they parlayed their money advantage into the signing of a couple of terrific ballplayers. IIATMS, that’s the way the game is played.

If the Yanks are outbid, they’re outbid. It would be among the rarest events in the baseball world, but it can happen. We’ll have to lick our wounds and just go out and play like mad this Spring and Summer.? World Series titles are not awarded in December. There are games to play.?? That’s what every other team has said after a Yankees spending spree. Now it’s our turn, IF Cliff Lee lands in Texas.

If he chooses the Yanks, we’ll hear all about “the Yanks are buying a title” yet again. It is about the money.

-

And if Lee takes Texas’ tax-advantaged money:

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.

View the original article here