The Cliff Lee sweepstakes were expected to heat up during the MLB Winter Meetings, but there hasn’t yet been much progress. However, according to Jon Heyman, that all may be changing, as Heyman is reporting that Lee has received a seven-year contract offer worth $20-25 million per year. The offer isn’t from the Nationals, and so far the Rangers and Yankees have said that they’re capping themselves at six, so we’re left with three possibilities:
Cliff Lee Might Have Seven-Year Contract Offer As Yankees Grow Frustrated
(1) Heyman’s report is incorrect
(2) the Rangers and/or the Yankees have changed their mind
(3) There is a mystery team out there throwing around big money
For the Yankees part, Ken Rosenthal says they’re actually growing frustrated at the slow pace of the Lee talks. The Yankees are ready to make a deal, but Lee and agent Darek Braunecker are drawing things out, and no deal seems imminent.
With Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera both re-signed, Lee is the Yankees’ top offseason priority, and they would like to know one way or another what’s going to happen before they move on to other options.
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