Kuzul

As baseball’s offseason heats up, one of the more intriguing names on the market is former No. 1 overall pick and current Arizona Diamondback outfielder, Justin Upton.

Numerous teams are interested in the very young and talented outfielder and, as usual, one of the teams to make an inquiry is the New York Yankees. Although the Yankees do not have Upton at the top of their wish list, he could certainly become an option.

For the right price, this could be a great move for the Yankees in both the short term and the long term. Here are the top 10 reasons the Yankees should make this deal.

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Cliff Lee is undoubtedly the biggest free agent name on the market this offseason, and with good reason. The 32-year old hits almost every key point on the checklist for a must-have pitcher: He’s a dominant, left-handed starting pitcher, who’s capable of striking guys out or getting players to ground out and is in the midst of his prime.

Reports are coming in that Lee has been offered a six-year, $140 million contract by the New York Yankees, who covet his services to an almost obsessive degree.

Lee’s a great pitcher, to be sure; but is he, or any pitcher for that matter, worth a contract of that magnitude? We’re taking a look at both sides of the argument, giving you five reasons why no one is worth that kind of money, and five reasons why Lee is the exception to the rule.

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Cliff Lee is a free agent, and that means the team that flashes the most cash will have the advantage in the arms race.

Lee most likely enjoys Texas, unfortunately, us fans don’t really get a lot of the Rangers during the typical MLB season.

As a casual observer of the game, I choose to take a glance at the 10 places in which Lee would look best. Of course, we are taking into account exposure, market and fan base.

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As the MLB rumor mill continues to churn, many fans are beginning to show a disdain towards the carousel-style news surrounding their favorite players.

Just ask Philadelphia Phillies’ fans about Jayson Werth updates.

This week—particularly the past 48 hours—there is even more confusing media frenzied news to keep fans on the edge of their seat, as they wait with baited breath to find out the latest whispers.

But initial reports often become misleading if not interpreted properly, which in turn, can be emulated by the chain of articles that feed off of them.

Leading the way is the reported deal that the Yankees apparently offered Cliff Lee a six-year $140 million deal which is now being refuted by NY Daily News’ Mark Feinsand.

What is true is that the Rangers curiously offered Lee arbitration and are likely to match any offer made by any team currently hunting Cliff lee.

Another major storyline leading the way is the possibility of Derek Jeter not returning to New York, as GM Brian Cashman was reported telling Newark Star-Ledger reporter Ken Davidoff: “He should be nothing but a New York Yankee. He chooses not to be.”

This isn’t exactly solid news as it can also be construed that Cashman is reacting poorly to the Yankees current offer of three years, $45 million—turned down by Jeter—which Jeter thinks he is worth more than.

According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees plan to sweeten their deal, but no details were currently available at the time of this article.

And finally, Jason Stark of ESPN.com is reporting that “one source” says that talks between Javier Vazquez and the Florida Marlins are “getting hot.”

This is curious news considering Vazquez had a terrible season last year, and is widely viewed as being way past his prime at 34 producing a 5.32 ERA in 31 appearances as a Yankee.

Other reported clubs interested are the Cubs, Rockies, Nationals and Cardinals.

There is also a report from Stark—same article—that Vazquez declined a $20 million offer over two years, but that he is looking for a one year deal only.

A very curious decline indeed, but you can bank on thing: Vazquez will ultimately lead the way in MLB headlines in the coming days.

Of course, everything I mentioned could significantly change with Derek Jeter suddenly deciding to play for the New York Giants; Cliff Lee—after revealing his “true” sports love: soccer—deciding to play for Manchester United; and Javier Vazquez deciding to retire on the beaches of Florida, but agreeing to don a Marlins jersey as a team spokeperson for one year while sipping martinis and soaking in the sun, right?

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In the beginning of November, the Yankees made getting Cliff Lee to New York a major priority.

First, they contacted his agent Darek Braunecker the very first day possible.

A couple weeks later, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman flew down to Arkansas to meet with Lee, his wife Kristen and Braunecker, mostly as a formal meet and greet.

Now, it looks as if the Yankees are making their first offer to the left-hander.

According to a story done by Yahoo’s Tim Brown, “an industry source has said the Yankees have offered Lee a six-year deal worth $140 million, which could pay him around $23.3 million per season.”

This report contradicts what Boston Globe reporter Nick Cafardo wrote, saying the Yankees were going to offer five years and anywhere from $115-120 million.

Brown did mention in his story that his source could not confirm nor deny the offer, especially from Lee’s agent or the Yankees. Plus, the story was placed in the lower part of his column.

Now while this is all speculation, this could in fact be the Yankees making a very bold first offer to Lee, one that the Texas Rangers might not be able to keep up with.

According to that same unknown source, Lee is still holding out for that seventh year, similar to CC Sabathia’s contract.

If the rumor does end up being true, I can’t see Lee holding out for a seventh year, especially when the Yankees are offering so much money into the contract and one that other teams might not be able to match.

A lot of people don’t expect Lee to sign until the Baseball Winter Meetings, which are from December 6-9. But this type of aggressive pursuit is nothing new to the Yankees.

When they were in pursuit of Sabathia, they offered him a $120 million deal on the first day of free agency, and because the Yankees could be in major need of Lee, they are showing a lot of the same aggressive actions that they did with Sabathia.

So now it becomes a question of truth: Did the Yankees really offer Lee the six-year deal?

Will Lee accept that deal?

Will the Rangers try to counter it?

How long will it take for Lee to make a decision?

These are all the many questions we will ask and wonder as the process continues.

Stay tuned, as this situation seems to be getting more interesting by the day.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Cliff Lee of the Texas Rangers (at least for now) is the prized free agent pitcher heading into the 2011 season.

And perhaps the biggest prize of all free agents.

Where will he wind up and, presumably, pitch for the next five or so years? It appears to be a two-horse race between the Rangers and the favored New York Yankees.

The 32-year-old southpaw is projected by many to be able to command something in the vicinity of 5-year at a total of  $110 million or so. He may insist on, and receive, a six-year contract in that same $20-22 million neighborhood.

Nice neighborhood, by the way.

Any way you phrase it, there is a lot of risk involved in handing out that kind of long-term dough for any pitcher—especially a pitcher in his 30s who missed several starts this year due to injuries, however minor.

Regardless of whether he stays in Texas, goes to New York or plays (however improbably) for someone else, I project that Lee is a good risk—both performance-wise and health-wise. 

What follows is a power ranking of 10 reasons to support this premise.

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MLB Rumors: The Latest on Derek Jeter, Prince Fielder, Cliff Lee and More

With the hot stove heating up there are a lot of trade rumors and free agency rumors flying around.

In this countdown we take a look at five free agents and five possible trade pieces.

What is the latest on these players? And more importantly, where are they headed?

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Cliff Lee is a phenom on the mound.  With the ball in hand and the crowd going bananas, Lee oftentimes shines.  His prowess as a big-game pitcher is no longer questioned, despite another World Series loss for his team, this time the Texas Rangers.  

The one team that has long coveted this stud lefty is the money-powered New York Yankees.  Why not? Unlike most teams, they can afford Lee’s services, and they’re looking for another arm in their rotation right now—or at least they should be.  

The Yankees’ Evil Empire moniker would just get more “evil” if they were to sign Lee.  He’s another top player that will command a lot of money and add to their star-studded club.  Despite Yankee fans acting “uncivilly” towards Mrs. Lee, at the end of the day, money talks.  Remember what management did for Mark Teixeira’s wife, Leigh?  Don’t think that Cliff Lee’s wife Kristen can’t be bought too.

Here are seven reasons why the Yankees will acquire Cliff Lee this offseason.  

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It has been some time since the New York Yankees weren’t involved with an offseason’s top free agents. This year—to the chagrin of many baseball fans—is no different.  The most prized member of this year’s free agent class, lefty Cliff Lee, tops just about every team’s free agent priority list. For the Yankees, Lee could quite possibly be the piece that seemed to be missing down the stretch in their 2010 campaign. 

However, Lee will not come without opposition. The team that may pose the biggest threat to the Yankees is the Texas Rangers, the team with which Lee finished the 2010 season. After leading the Rangers past the Yankees in the American League Championship Series and into the franchise’s first-ever World Series appearance, Lee said that he would love to remain a Ranger. 

With that being said, the Rangers do not have near the spending power of the Steinbrenner brothers. Just as in years past, it may come down to teams bidding up the Yankees, just so they will be forced to pay more than they would like. The same occurred two years ago, when the Yankees paid $82.5 million for A.J. Burnett, an injury-prone pitcher known for his inconsistency on the mound. As Burnett’s disastrous 2010 season indicated, he was probably not worth nearly that amount. In fact, Burnett may have been the beneficiary of being one of the top pitchers in an otherwise weak 2008 free agent class. 

But Cliff Lee is not A.J. Burnett. In fact, over the past three years, Lee has been one of the best and most consistent pitchers in the game. Barring two losses in this year’s World Series, Lee has also shown a pedigree for postseason success. This will not go unnoticed in the Bronx, where a player’s legacy is built upon his ability, or inability, to lead the Bombers to their next World Series ring (see: Scott Brosius). 

When the dust settles, the Yankees’ ceiling will probably be much too high for any other team to match. If Lee decides to follow the money, he will be led straight to 161st and River. 

So what does that mean for the rest of the Yankees’ offseason? Beyond Mariano Rivera, who will more than likely re-sign, and Andy Pettitte, who is considering retirement, there are a few players who should be firmly fixated atop the team’s list of priorities.

The most obvious is Derek Jeter. It is nearly inevitable that the Yankees will have to overpay to retain Jeter, at least in terms of last year’s statistics and his future statistical projections. However, Jeter’s presence looms much larger than his statistics, in many respects. As the Yankees captain, just the 13th in the team’s 107-year history, Jeter represents everything that is the Yankees mystique. Jeter will most likely be paid in terms of his past success, both individually and in leading the Yankees to five world championships in his 15 seasons so far. It is fully expected that the Yankees will re-sign Jeter, at a price that may not please the Yankees’ front office. 

Another big name free agent on the Yankees’ radar is Carl Crawford, the 29-year-old left fielder who has played all of his nine seasons in Tampa Bay. Crawford, a career .296 hitter, would bring dynamic speed and another plus bat to an already stacked Yankees lineup. A true leadoff hitter, he would be able to take over the top of the lineup from Jeter, who would fall back into the two-hole where he has spent most of his career. While there is not an imminent need for an outfielder in the Bronx, New York will assuredly make a run for Crawford. It must be said, however, that Crawford, in all likelihood, is only a backup plan for the Yanks, if they are unable to sign Cliff Lee. It would be unlikely for the Yankees to spend top money on two players for yet another offseason (although crazier things have happened). 

Perhaps the most understated re-signing for the Yankees this offseason will be that of reliever Kerry Wood. Wood, who came over from the Indians via trade in July, was lights-out for the Yankees in August, September and into the postseason. With all the focus on the possibility of New York signing Lee to bolster a rotation that struggled in 2010, Wood’s importance down the stretch has been largely overlooked. His presence in the bullpen, as a bridge to closer Mariano Rivera, filled a large void that had been left by a struggling Joba Chamberlain. The 33-year-old Wood could turn out to be an important piece to the Yankees 2011 puzzle. 

Year in and year out, there is one thing for certain: the New York Yankees will be in the middle of the free agency circus. After a season that did not live up to expectations in the Bronx, the Steinbrenners will pull out all the stops to assure that the Yankees sign at least one of this year’s top free agent prospects. George would settle for nothing less.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

While 2009 ended with a World Series championship, 2010 ended in disappointment.

While the Texas Rangers celebrated in front of their home crowd and were heading to their first World Series championship in franchise history, the 2010 offseason was beginning for the New York Yankees.

The Yankees and their 200 million dollar payroll, began their offseason earlier than expected.  Now multiple uncertainties surround this team, with some of the greatest players in franchise history becoming free agents.

It’s sad to write, but even the almighty Yankees can’t be the best every year. Only most of the time.

As the Yankees get back to the drawing board, and look to re-tune for 2011, here are the 10 biggest offseason questions facing this team.

Sit back relax and enjoy.

Let’s play ball. 

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