Cliff Lee signs with the Phillies

**rthoughton** · 12-14-10, 11:29 AM

Ive had this pheeling since the day the phils sent lee to Seattle for prospects that this day would come. I am the prognosticator of prognosticators. Too bad I suck at gambling on sports.

**cadillac pete** · 12-14-10, 11:34 AM

Being a Sox fan, this news is great b/c he didn't sign w/the Evil Empire. The Phillies still need a legit righthanded bat to compsenate for the Werth loss. Still, this is a formidable rotation on paper.

**philliesfinest** · 12-14-10, 11:46 AM

Originally posted by Lou

One of the darkest days in Major League Baseball history for sure.

great for philly fans,why a dark day for baseball? yanks have tried to buy world series for years. this offer was not even the highest,must be a great place to play and live!!!!!!!! philliesfinest

**EaglesPhan36** · 12-14-10, 11:54 AM

There's some good stories out there though - as good as this looks now, the Phillies window of opportunity may be relatively small with their current core - Oswalt, Lidge, Rollins, Ibanez and Madson have deals that end next year. Oswalt has talked about retiring young before when he was with the Astros and he'll be 34 I think this season. Even if he goes for another contract, it'll be difficult for the Phillies to pony up against the big boys who will throw their vaults at Oswalt if he wants to pitch a short term deal. They may find out that Jayson Werth is also going to be missed as right handed pop.

**EaglesPhan36** · 12-14-10, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by Willie Bee

Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, did more to fan the rumor flames than anyone. Always so difficult to guage what's really true at this time of the offseason. Id' bet a fiver to a penny that Braunecker contacted Ruben Amaro last week to get this deal done after Texas and New York made their offers. Braunecker told Nolan Ryan and the Rangers earlier that it was up to them to make offers, not the player and his agent. I'm quite confident Braunecker then turned on his own statement and made the first offer to the Phillies.

What's funny is if the Yankees weren't involved, Lee would probably be considered a scumbag for this type of move ... but since he spurned the Yanks, everyone loves it.

**philswin** · 12-14-10, 12:03 PM

There is an option for Oswalt for 2012, Madsen will be re-signed. Rollins will probably be re-signed - Lidge and Ibanez will be let go and provide some salary relief. Dominnic Brown will be better than Ibanez. Hopefully Madsen or Mathisen can take over for Lidge, Lidge is way to inconsistant. My guess is budget will be tight in the coming years as the luxury tax becomes a factor. But when you sell out every game you have cashflow.

**opie1988** · 12-14-10, 12:19 PM

Wow! What a great time to be a Philadelphia sports fan!!

Of course, the downside is....you have to live in that s**thole they call Philadelphia, PA....which HAS to suck. It must be like living in Newark, except with a higher level of suckness!!

So, on second thought....I'll take a pass.

**floridagolfer** · 12-14-10, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by unusialsusp5

how can these teams afford to pay these players.

Because the stupid American sports fan continues to pack stadiums and pay twice as much as a ticket ought to cost, as well as drinking a steady supply of $8 beers.

**Poster X** · 12-14-10, 12:44 PM

impressive sounding rotation. stuff like this rarely works out though.

**pavyracer** · 12-14-10, 12:44 PM

they didn't win anything last year..what makes you think this team will get better now that they have lost Werth?

**Mikail** · 12-14-10, 12:46 PM

Originally posted by pavyracer

they didn't win anything last year..what makes you think this team will get better now that they have lost Werth?

That's a good point. Werth was one of the Phillies productive bats last season. Better stats than Howard and Utley for last season but the have Dominic Brown who should fill those shoes just fine.

**stikymess** · 12-14-10, 12:51 PM

The issue was hitting I thought? Tough to win 1-0, 2-0 every night.

**tltaylor89** · 12-14-10, 01:12 PM

Cliff Lee accepts 5 Years $120Million $50 Million less than what Rangers offered.

He wants a ring real bad.

**Jessica** · 12-14-10, 01:14 PM

Yeah because 5 years/120 million isn't good enough...

**tltaylor89** · 12-14-10, 01:16 PM

Originally posted by Jessica

Yeah because 5 years/120 million isn't good enough...

Its not good enough hes fuking crazy the way these players blow money they need the fattest contracts possible.

**Junkyard Dog** · 12-14-10, 01:18 PM

phillys rotation is fukkin sick

**BigSpoon** · 12-14-10, 01:20 PM

Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt, Lee and Blanton. Its the HHO-Lee-Shit rotation!

I didn't make that up, read it on a blog today.

**pavyracer** · 12-14-10, 01:22 PM

He would have a hard time feeding his family with 120 million in 5 years. That's like 2 million per month for the next 5 years and he would only have to pitch twice a week only in the months the season is on. How can someone make it in this world getting paid half a million dollars per start to throw 100 pitches? They actually pay him $5,000 per pitch he throws.

**Dank_Fire** · 12-14-10, 01:23 PM

It is because his kid is recovering from leukemia and Philly has the top childrens hospital in America

**Pauulzcappin** · 12-14-10, 01:48 PM

I like how most are already crowning the Phillies before the season even started.

**Pauulzcappin** · 12-14-10, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by EaglesPhan36

What's funny is if the Yankees weren't involved, Lee would probably be considered a scumbag for this type of move ... but since he spurned the Yanks, everyone loves it.

No shit. CJ Wilson looks pissed with Lee on twitter.

**treece** · 12-14-10, 01:50 PM

$50 million is a lot of money to just throw away.

**ProfaneReality** · 12-14-10, 02:03 PM

lets be clear... 50 million more (if that is the correct number) was not for the same amount of years. it was for 2 more years and wasnt gauranteed.

**dovlon** · 12-14-10, 02:05 PM

Let me guess, the Yankees don't have enough rings. He just didn't want to live in NYC

**EaglesPhan36** · 12-14-10, 02:06 PM

Are you sure Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies? I've only seen about 12 other threads, I thought he was going to play goalie for Inter Milan?

**Mikail** · 12-14-10, 02:06 PM

He made the right choice for a number of reasons.

**tunaguitar76** · 12-14-10, 02:09 PM

i wish they would have spent it on Crawford or a hitter instead. Tough to complain about it though.

**pats3peat** · 12-14-10, 02:16 PM

no way. did they really?

**thecodster** · 12-14-10, 02:23 PM

great grab for the phils, although being a yankees fan i didnt want lee for more than 4 years. just another aj

**moses millsap** · 12-14-10, 03:03 PM

lolololol @ the yankees, hilarious, at least they got russell martin

**Pauulzcappin** · 12-14-10, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by moses millsap

lolololol @ the yankees, hilarious, at least they got russell martin

This is a never-ending nightmare.

**DennisGreen** · 12-14-10, 04:16 PM

This is awesome he shafts the Evil Empire and signs for $50 mill less. Good to see some players do it for more than just the money. Phillies are my #2 team behind the Jays. Go Phillies!

**Brocc** · 12-14-10, 05:54 PM

The ironic thing, exactly 1 year ago today Cliff Lee was traded to Seattle.

This is the best Christmas present ever!!

**SBR Lou** · 12-14-10, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by treece

$50 million is a lot of money to just throw away.

His deal here is for 5 years. Didn't the Yankees offer 7 years? Perhaps he wants to retire earlier.

**Willie Bee** · 12-14-10, 06:06 PM

There's a sixth year that could net Lee over $25 million, think it's a $12.5 million buyout on the Phils if he doesn't auto-vest in Year 6 and they don't want him. If he threw away money at any point in this deal, it's the fact he turned down the Rangers with Texas not having a state income tax as opposed to NY and PA.