Cliff Lee, Phillies Throw Yankees and Rangers Big Curveball

The scouting reports for Cliff Lee say he throws a solid curve-ball.

Before last night, I just didn't know he could disguise it that well.

Lee helped pull perhaps the biggest free agent shocker of the winter when he turned away contracts from both the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees to take less money from the Philadelphia Phillies. Most fans didn't know that Philadelphia was even in the mix until rumors started circulating late Monday night.

Lee's new contract with Philadelphia is for 5-years, $120 million, far less that the rumored 7-year, $150 million plus that the Yankees were offering and certainly less than the smorgasbord of offers that the Texas Rangers had put into play. It just goes to show you, on rare occasions players will go with their hearts, not their wallets.

The move is certainly a coup for Philadelphia, who now sports a front four of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, to form what is undoubtedly the best rotation in baseball. It's also a big financial commitment for the Phillies, who had traded Lee a year earlier to shed salary and make room for Halladay.

Lee's decision is also a big gain for the Boston Red Sox and the rest of the American League, as Lee stays out of pinstripes, spurning the Yankees when they badly needed the pitching.

New York is still left with some options, although a return engagement with Carl Pavano is unlikely. The Yankees can still look to deal prospects for Zack Grienke from Kansas City, but that package would ultimately have to include 3-4 high level prospects, including Jesus Montero, who is slated to be in New York's line-up next season.

Texas on the other hand wanted in on Lee, but already had a plan in play as an alternative. They will now likely look to make a bold move on Adrian Beltre and then trade Michael Young for some pitching help. No doubt the team is disappointed in having to resort to plan B, but they also didn't want to handcuff themselves in a similar fashion to the way they did with Alex Rodriguez. Texas will also check in on Grienke.

Just where is Philadelphia coming up with these funds? After locking up Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay last season and adding Roy Oswalt to the mix at the deadline, the Phillies finished 2010 with the fourth highest payroll in baseball at $142 million plus. Adding another $24 million will undoubtedly require the team to get creative next off-season in terms of moving salaries or raising ticket prices. However, a fervent fan base and a team that is showing dedication to keep winning should help ease that stress.

In the end, the Phillies continue to build off of their success and are now the clear favorites in the National League, maybe in all of baseball.

Sources:

- Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Salary, ESPN.com

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