Cliff Lee Goes Back to Philadelphia

[Ramp]

Lee's deal will have an "easily reached" vesting option for a 6th year, apparently.

[Bobbob1313]

You play to win the game, and kudos for them for improving their team, but you can't ignore that team's serious long term payroll issues with two guys getting $20 mil for the next 5+ years who probably won't age well.

[FishFanInPA]

I'm thinking Oswalt doesn't have as good of a season next year. Unfortunately, that won't matter with three other aces.

[DColts]

$166 million is the payroll for the Phillies now.

[jOOj]

Who would the #5 be if/when they trade Blanton?

[Omar]

They'll find a way to make it Moyer when we play them

[HUGG]

Kyle Kendrick right?

[DColts]

I think it is time to try Joba again as a starter

[FishFanInPA]

Moyer's done for 2010 I thought because of the surgery.

[Madman81]

Moyer's done for 2010 I thought because of the surgery.

Everyone is done for 2010 I thought because it's December.

[CrimsonCane]

Lee may not live up to his salary in the later years, but this is not a good development for the year we go in to the stadium. I mean we basically will need some combination of key injury from Philly, a major acquisition by Florida, a player in our system blowing up in order for the Marlins to be looking at taking the division. The NL East is going to be insane. (Especially with a Nationals team that is going to have its top prospects on the big league roster in 2012.)

[Bobbob1313]

Well, one of and maybe both of Hamels and Oswalt will be gone next year, unless they are going to spend $90 million on just their pitching staff.

[HUGG]

Hard to see them re-signing Jimmy Rollins or Raul Ibanez after 2011.

Mostly because they both suck.

[HUGG]

Heyman says it's 120mil over 5, higher annual than the Yankees and Lee wanted to go there so badly that he initiated a lot of the talks.

http://twitter.com/#!/SI_JonHeyman

[nny]

Yeah, the Phils have about 65m coming off the books after '11 with Rollins, Ibanez, Hamels, Oswalt, Lidge, Madson, Baez, Schnieder, Gload....so the only thing not shit they're losing are Oswalt and Hamels and they have a ton freed up to re-sign them.

Also, something on fangraphs certainly made me think before: People bash teams for making win now/lose later moves, but applaud lose now/win later moves. Why? It's still giving loses to win. But you're more likely to win now, plus things like making money now etc. I certainly was somebody who thought "win now" moves were stupid (and, obviously, it depends on the franchise. Pitt making a "win now" move is very different from phillies or boston from making a "win now" move. Was with werth? we'll have to see but they do have a damn good farm and a damn good rotation once straus comes back).

And yeah, NL east will be crazy.

NYM: Just hired some of the best FO men in baseball, once their contracts are off the books jesus.
WAS: Good young core at mlb and crazy good farm
ATL: One of best offices in baseball
PHI: Jesus