UPDATE (12/7/2010 at 8:00 pm): News Flash! Jon Heyman reports that there isn't one, but two mystery teams looking to offer Cliff Lee seven years, and neither of those teams are the Yankees or Rangers. So who could those teams be? The Red Sox, Angels, and Tigers are all looking to spend money this offseason. None of those teams seem to be great fits for Lee. Stay tuned...
Original Post (12/7/2010 at 3:05 pm): Do you remember the days when the Cliff Lee sweepstakes was a two team race? Well, those days are long gone--maybe. The Nationals...yes, the same Nationals that just gave Jayson Werth a 7 year $126M contract...have re-expressed interest in Cliff Lee. Well, kinda sorta. Not really. Perhaps? Ok, I'll be honest, no one has a clue. Here's a recap of this morning's events:
10:00 am: Buster Olney tweeted that there was a lot buzz around the Winter Meetings that the Nationals were going to offer Lee a seven year contract. That makes sense. Any time you can give a 32 year old pitcher a seven year contract worth around $22-25M a year, you have to do it, right? After all, they're flush with cash after all of the money they saved by signing Jayson Werth to a team friendly deal. Anywho...
Yes, that was sarcasm. In case you couldn't tell.
11:00 am: All hell breaks loose. First, there were reports that the Nats weren't going to offer Lee seven years, but would still likely make an offer. Then, there was a report the Nats would go to seven years because they knew the Yankees wouldn't.* Up is down. Left is right. Cats and dogs are playing together. What is the world coming to?
* Ok. Before I go any further, if the Yankees aren't willing to go to seven years for a pitcher they're obsessed with, then the Nats (or any other team) probably shouldn't either. That should send up a huge red flag. It's possible...albeit slightly...that you're overpaying for the player.
12:00 pm: Finally, Jon Heyman laid this baby to rest when he let everyone know that the Nats weren't looking to sign Cliff Lee. Or so we thought...
1:00 pm: Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post tweeted that the Nationals and Lee are "maintaining dialogue." I'm not even sure what that means. "Maintaining dialogue" could mean they've made a play date where they intend to practice french kissing while braiding each other's hair and eating cookie dough ice cream.
2:00 pm: Jon Heyman re-enters the fun when he shares that Lee has at least one seven year offer around $20-25M per season--but neither the Nats (because they may or not be involved) nor the Yankees (who won't go higher than six years) made the offer. Who else could it be? I can't believe it's the Rangers because they were rumored to have only offered him four years. I have a hard time believing they went from four years to seven in the manner of a couple of days. Who else could it be? No one else has been rumored to be hot after Lee. Do I smell a mystery team?
3:00 pm: Buster Olney reports the Yankees are prepared to offer Lee a six year deal, but likely won't go to a seventh. Why? They have standards. They never give out long term deals that take a player past age 37. Oh wait...
That brings us up to date on Cliff Lee. I hope you're thoroughly confused. I know I am.
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