Cliff Lee Goes Back to Philadelphia

[Big Z]

There are still rumblings about a third team, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).The mystery team's offer appears to be significantly lower than the Yankees' proposal, but it's from a place Lee "loves."

-MLBTR

Wonder who that team may be? My guess is Rockies, Braves or Angels.

[emkayseven]

how did you come up with the first two?

[jOOj]

Phillies are in the mix, they are looking to deal Blanton to free a bit more salary.

[DColts]

Who's gonna want him?

[jOOj]

The Yankees are now "extremely negative" about landing Lee and they believe he is leaning toward the Phillies' offer, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter).

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

[MiamiHomer]

Oh wtf.

[jOOj]

Who's gonna want him?

That's what I was thinking, however:

@jaysonst Surveyed 3 teams to see if Joe Blanton is moveable if #Phillies sign Lee. Consensus was yes, but they'd have to eat half his $17M remaining.

[MiamiHomer]

Well fuck. Fire up the Grienkemobile if this happens. Fight fire with fire!

[FishFanInPA]

jesus...If they get Lee forget it.

[Swifty]

I think Halladay - Lee would be great for the sport. Superteams are good for sports in general.

However, if Lee leaves $50 mil on the table to go to the Phillies, it's really really bad for the sport.

You'd have the consensus #1 FA take a flat out cut rate deal in the same offseason Jayson Werth and Carl Crawford got retarded money. That basically renders 3/4 of the teams in baseball irrelevant. Fiscally responsible, yet aggressive home-grown teams (like the Angels or Rangers, for example) are basically neutered. The new model becomes spend so much money the contract isn't even second guessed it's "first guessed" or just hope your team has the "it" factor that makes a free agent want to come.

Basically, it's the NBA, but moving to baseball. And that's really bad because at least the NBA gives you a ton of playoff spots to keep good not great teams relevant longer.
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PS:

The one thing that always made "sense" about baseball was capitalism ruled. Sometimes you'd have guys take a little less to go where they wanted to go, but not 1/3 less. This is just flat out disastrous because Texas followed what should be the blueprint to success perfectly. Build build build, get super aggressive, win and then spend to keep what was working. At least with the Yankees, Lee would be going to a team that made a bigger offer.

[Fish and Chips]

EDIT: it was a fake account

[Swifty]

Yeah, that's 100% fake.

http://twitter.com/ken_rosenthal

[Big Z]

If the Phils get Lee, I would expect the Fish to go hard after Upton/Greinke.

[Ramp]

lol nope

[Swifty]

You forget all the notable offseason arms races we have participated in in years past, Ramp.