Cliff Lee Goes Back to Philadelphia

[Erick]

The Red Sox have been toying with the Yankees all offseason.
They had discussions to acquire Joe Blanton...basically to prevent Cliff Lee from going to the Yankees, just like they gave Carl Crawford the highest amount of money the night after it became public that Crawford had had dinner with Cashman.

Not only have they made their team better, but they definitely did this to screw the Yankees offseason.

[Swifty]

Lee's 6th year option is for 28.5 million.

They can have him. That's dumb, especially if it's "easily reachable."

[Mainge]

Shouldn't have spit on his wife.

[Party]

People love bashing win now/lose later formula because everyone gets in a tizzy over prospects and long term development. Part of being a good GM is knowing when to pull the trigger and go all in. This happened with the Brewers in 2008 and they are paying for it now. If you consider their roster and payroll situation at the time, going after CC was the best move you could make in the short and long term.

The Phillies now have a team that can win more than 100 games. It would cement them as one of the greatest teams ever and a NL dynasty.

Payrolls have grown ~10% a year on a consistent basis. Some of these contracts the Phillies have signed will not seem nearly as bad as they do today.

The National League East is going to be very sick. Sicker than the American League East. Five teams could sustain payrolls of $90 million and four north of $120 million.

As a Marlins fan, I am pushing hard for that fifth playoff spot.

[emkayseven]

LOL I hate how stupid some people are

Another name available on the trade market may be Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson. The Marlins are a selling team right now and they are reloading yet again for another potential run in 2-3 years. The team traded away Dan Uggla and it is now Hanley Ramirez's team in Miami. Would the Marlins trade away their young ace to reload their pitching staff and to continue to add more prospects?

It's certainly a possibility when you consider the Marlins are looking into a new stadium and will need to put fans in the new stadium's seats. A young, exciting team might be the trick. It's unlikely as well right now, but when the Yankees come knocking, in desperate times, it very well could happen.

http://www.mvpgotham.com/mlb/1347-so...e-yankees.html

fucking retards
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anyway i think the biggest fallout of this for us is that coghlan is going to be our centerfielder. there's no way in hell we're moving nolasco for a CF now.

[DColts]

The Red Sox have been toying with the Yankees all offseason.
They had discussions to acquire Joe Blanton...basically to prevent Cliff Lee from going to the Yankees, just like they gave Carl Crawford the highest amount of money the night after it became public that Crawford had had dinner with Cashman.

Not only have they made their team better, but they definitely did this to screw the Yankees offseason.

They didn't screw us with Crawford, the dinner was just to drive up his price. Plus I hope they get Blanton because he sucks.

[Namaste]

Nny, how many wins do you think this trade will cost FLA?

2? 3?

[Erick]

They didn't screw us with Crawford, the dinner was just to drive up his price. Plus I hope they get Blanton because he sucks.

The Yankees wanted Crawford.

And they don't even need Blanton.

[DColts]

Cashman said it was a bluff. We also didn't really need him, Gardner is good enough and cheaper.

[Swifty]

With Martin now a Yankee, I assume Montero is available.

Damn us for signing John Buck. Ricky for Montero is a classic desperation move, and they sure seem desperate right now.
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Cashman said it was a bluff. We also didn't really need him, Gardner is good enough and cheaper.

Teams don't usually admit they were left at the alter by a free agent.

It's safe to say the Yankees were interested in Crawford. Maybe not $150 million interested, but they were interested.

[DColts]

We're probably letting Montero develop more and use Martin as a backup catcher when he's ready.

[Miamarlin21]

But don't they hate him as a catcher?
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Him being Montero.

[DColts]

He's crappy defensively but can play there for now

[Bobbob1313]

People love bashing win now/lose later formula because everyone gets in a tizzy over prospects and long term development. Part of being a good GM is knowing when to pull the trigger and go all in. This happened with the Brewers in 2008 and they are paying for it now. If you consider their roster and payroll situation at the time, going after CC was the best move you could make in the short and long term.

The Phillies now have a team that can win more than 100 games. It would cement them as one of the greatest teams ever and a NL dynasty.

Payrolls have grown ~10% a year on a consistent basis. Some of these contracts the Phillies have signed will not seem nearly as bad as they do today.

The National League East is going to be very sick. Sicker than the American League East. Five teams could sustain payrolls of $90 million and four north of $120 million.

As a Marlins fan, I am pushing hard for that fifth playoff spot.

Yeah, inflation is inflation, but Ryan Howard at 36 for $20 million and Cliff Lee at 38 for $28.5 million isn't going to look good no matter how you slice it.

And where have you gotten the 10% number? Almost everythin ive read has put it at 4-7.

[Party]

I never said these contracts were going to look good on the back end. Certainly not from a year to year standpoint. Six years from now if the Phillies have three or four pennants, when everything is taken into consideration, those contracts are going to be an after thought and the cost of doing business.

~10% since 1989: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/salaries/avgsalaries