OT: Yanks offer Cliff Lee $140 million

[dagger]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/sport ... es.html?hp

They proved their interest with some mighty financial backing Wednesday, offering Lee a six-year deal worth about $140 million. Cashman acknowledged only that an offer was presented, but a baseball official with knowledge of the discussions confirmed the terms.

That pact would vault Lee past his close friend C. C. Sabathia to collect the highest annual salary for a starter. The Yankees signed Sabathia to a seven-year, $161 million contract in 2008, but they view Johan Santana’s six-year, $137.5 million deal with the Mets in 2008 as more of a guideline that they were prepared to exceed.

[torontoaces04]

Git'r done AA!! Hahaha!

[rdtx2005]

Lee is worth more than CC IMO

[CapeCrusader]

Lee is worth more than CC IMO

I dunno about that. Lee is worth a lot but I dunno about more than CC.

[Avenger]

Lee is worth more than CC IMO

I dunno about that. Lee is worth a lot but I dunno about more than CC.

CC was 28 when he signed that contract, Lee is 32, lee is much more risky and probably not that much better of a pitcher

[spykelee]

With what the red sox have done so far this off-season, I don't think there's any chance at all that Cliff Lee goes anywhere other than NY. The bombers never want to lose, and that includes the off-season headlines as well. Especially when Lee fills a big void on that yankee team.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Lee is definitely worth more than CC, no if and or but. CC is on his slow decline. Lee is still dominant as ever.

[L3M0NAD3]

I'd take Lee over CC right now but obviously signing a 32 year old for 6 years is risky. But again for right now I'd take Lee. He signs in NY, hes the Ace.

[mini]

Yankees have now offered a 7th year with a lower annual salary - or so the rumour mill says.

[YogiStewart]

i'm waiting for the Yankees to counter the Yankees' offer

[MGD24]

i'm waiting for the Yankees to counter the Yankees' offer

LOL! +1

[luvtheteam]

7 years for a pitcher at these amounts....probably $165mm, is just ludicrous. He's 32....maybe you get 2 or 3 more good years from him. That's $100mm into the sinkhole. Would love it if Lee snubs them and goes back to Texas...especially for less.

[U_Mad]

What a perfect name for a Yankees GM Brian Cash-man

[Dr Positivity]

7 years for a pitcher at these amounts....probably $165mm, is just ludicrous. He's 32....maybe you get 2 or 3 more good years from him. That's $100mm into the sinkhole. Would love it if Lee snubs them and goes back to Texas...especially for less.

The Rangers spending 140 mil on Lee would be very, very dumb and potentially crippling

I just have a bad feeling about Lee keeping this up post contract compared to say, Sabathia

[J-Roc]

Somewhere an old LeBron fan cries another tear.

[SharoneWright]

Lee is starting to come off like a bit of a drama-queen to me. Like, what's the hold up and what's the difference between 135 or 145 million and 6 or 7 years. Why doesn't he just figure out if he wants to be in NY, TX, or even WSH and tell his agent to go hammer out the best terms?

[J-Roc]

^^
Agent probably tells him, the longer you wait, the more it goes up. It's probably not even in Lee's hands at this point.