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pay the man already!

Amen. Give him whatever he wants.

Yankees need an ace.

The Yankees have an ace.

I'd like Lee as much as everyone else but wrapping another $20 mil in another starter may be impossible when we're going to have to pay an outfielder and re-up both Jeter and Mo this offseason. We'll have some kids competing for that fifth spot and presumably Andy coming back. Phil is settled in and AJ isn't going anywhere. Our best hope is AJ getting his head back together and pitching like the guy we paid last year.

Posada's contract is nearly up - we'll be shopping for pitching when he's off the books since we'll have minor leaguers to slot into his catching/DH role. Look internally for starters next season in the interim. Nova showed me enough that, while I wouldn't bank on him, I'd have him in the discussion for that slot next year. I don't (and certainly the Yankees organization doesn't) want to see the Yankees salary creep far above $200 mil if it can be avoided.

Another $20 mil starter, whether Lee or someone else, is not a must have but a luxury.

I disagree completely. How could you watch the second half of this season and not realize we need more pitching. Pettite cant be relied on anymore, hes great but who knows if he will be back. Leaving us with CC and Hughes as guys that are reliable, then we have Burnett, Nova, Joba? Thats not strong enough for me. Id much rather Lee for 15-18 a year then Crawford for similar money. We are fine with Swish, Granderson, and Gardner, would it be nice to have Crawford near the top of the order? Of course, but pitching is far more important, especially in the post season. Having Lee, Hughes, and CC, would be comparable to Oswalt, Halladay, and Hamels.

We need more pitching.

Seriously, Lee was auditioning for the Yanks. If you can't beat him, SIGN HIM.

I'd sign him just to not face him again in the playoffs.

As dominant as he is, I'm not sure that committing 20 million dollars to another starting pitcher is wise, long term at least. Especially since we have a few waiting in the wings. But man is he dominant. Right now he is the best postseason starter of all time.

Hey Now Texas has a billion dollar TV deal, Lee might go the Schilling route and say kiss off.

Fury wrote:As dominant as he is, I'm not sure that committing 20 million dollars to another starting pitcher is wise, long term at least. Especially since we have a few waiting in the wings. But man is he dominant. Right now he is the best postseason starter of all time.

young pitchers have growing pains and innings limit

with the age of this team, it cant wait for them to develop

I wouldn't even hesitate to give him 110 over 5 years. The guy is a flat-out machine in the post-season. Imagine going into next post-season with Sabathia and Lee as your top 2, with Pettite (most wins of all-time) and Hughes following. That rotation is unreal. And I wouldn't hesitate giving him the money/years because 1) he is a work-horse. He has the same kind of work ethic as Teixera, he will always be in top-notch shape and will get the most out of his body. 2nd, he doesn't rely on overpowering stuff. He just works the zone so well. Between his good velocity (which obviously can't hurt), pin-point control, and changing the hitters eye level... he makes it look so easy.

True #1 aces don't go on the market very often. You either have to get lucky and draft/sign one in IFA, or trade for one (which costs a **** of prospects, both quality and quantity). Everyone saw how valuable Sabathia has been, Lee will be equally as valuable. Not to mention the Yankees core of top players are older so the organizations obviously in a win-now mode, and the rotation is going to have a hole (or 2, depending on Pettite) in it with Vasquez leaving.

the yanks should go after him IMO. if im not mistaken, javier vasquez' contract is soon to be up. with pettite not getting any younger and burnett being an enigma, signing lee to be the yank's second pitcher would be nice.

arkuo wrote:the yanks should go after him IMO. if im not mistaken, javier vasquez' contract is soon to be up. with pettite not getting any younger and burnett being an enigma, signing lee to be the yank's second pitcher would be nice.

He would actually be our number 1 pitcher.