The rumour mill has been working extra hard this past week and is expected to gain more steam as Cliff Lee has apparently said he will make his decision within the next 48 hours.
In my opinion I hope that he chooses to stick with the Texas Rangers.
Why?
If Cliff Lee signs with the Yankees the focus will largely be on him, as he will be crowned the saviour of this aging Yankee team.
In recent years another mega star, CC Sabathia, was brought to New York in light of his recent domination of national league hitters.
If CC can do it, why can’t Lee?
Because Sabathia has been consistent since his emergence in 2001.
Lee, on the other hand, did not transform to this overwhelming dominant version of himself until the 22-3 campaign in 2008.
For fun, let’s explore this a little bit further.
In Lee’s nine seasons, he has had an ERA over 3.69 five times, including 2007 and that awful 6.29. His stint in the second half of 2010 with the Rangers was pedestrian and the numbers prove it: 4-6, 3.98 while giving up 11 homeruns in 108 innings.
If Lee goes to New York, he better win 20 ever year for the seven years that are on the table. And he better outperform Sabathia at every turn.
Perhaps I just think Lee is not as good as everyone thinks. Hindsight is 20/20 right?
In all honesty, Lee is good. Very good and the recent postseason performances prove that. Still the American League West is not the American League East.
Cleveland is not New York, Philadelphia is not Boston and Texas isn’t even Chicago.
Lee has bee a hired gun since he turned into a left-handed Greg Maddux and has surpassed all expectations, that is until the San Francisco Giants ripped off his Superman cape.
If Lee joins the Yankees he is setting himself up for failure.
Currently the Yanks are losing the offseason grudge match to the Boston Red Sox as they have fully loaded a line-up that is going to be very hard to stop, and their pitching is every bit as good as the Yankees.
If the rumours are true, Texas will continue to be the team to beat if he decides to stick around.
The Rangers are in a weak division and their toughest opponent; the Los Angeles Angels has already lost their prized recruit to the Red Sox (Carl Crawford). The Seattle Mariners are lucky to score three runs a game and Lee knows that from experience.
The Oakland Athletics, on the other hand, are improving; using a defensive approach to rebuilding similar to what the Mariners have implemented but in no way are they ready to compete.
If Lee decides that New York is the way to go, he has the privilege of facing the Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and the powerful bats of the Toronto Blue Jays approximately 16 times in one season.
I can’t see Lee dominating those clubs with the precision that everyone is expecting.
Then again, if you are worth a seven-year deal at $160 million you must be that good. Right?
Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective
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