Ever since the Yankees lost in the ALCS, most of the hot stove talk has been centered around getting Texas Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee. A lot of Yankee fans think that it’s inevitable that he will be a Yankee next year. After all, the Bombers can throw beaucoups of money at him, the Yankees make the playoffs almost every year, and he’s good friends with CC Sabathia. But I wouldn’t be so sure that Lee is going to come to the Bronx. Here’s why:
* Yes, the Yankees usually get to the postseason, but contrary to what some fans seem to remember, they’ve made it to the World Series exactly one time since 2003. And you can’t really say anymore, as many free agents signing with the Yankees do, that coming to New York gives them the best chance of winning, when Lee’s Texas Rangers beat the Yankees this season in the ALCS. Lee himself has said that if the Rangers win the World Series, “it would be hard to walk away.”
* For that matter, Lee himself has been to the World Series twice in a row now, without wearing pinstripes. Reggie Jackson used to say how he brought his own star; that’s Lee, too. Whatever good team he’s on has a chance to do well in the postseason because of his presence at the top of the pitching rotation.
* The Rangers have new ownership, and a sweet new 20-year TV contract that reportedly gives the team at least $80 million a year. Owner Chuck Greenberg has said the team will be “aggressive” in re-signing Lee. This time around, the Yankees may not have the financial advantage they usually have in such competitons.
* USA Today’s Bob Nightengale (Hat tip: Lone Star Ball) recently interviewed Cliff Lee’s wife, Kristen. Turns out that she didn’t exactly have a wonderful experience in the Bronx this week:
Perhaps the Rangers’ greatest sales pitch simply was having Kristen sit in the visiting family section at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs. She says there were ugly taunts. Obscenities. Cups of beer thrown. Even fans spitting from the section above.
“The fans did not do good things in my heart,” Kristen says.
“When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it’s hard not to take it personal.”
Yikes!
In the USA Today article, Kristen Lee talked about how their hometown of Benton, Arkansas is just a 40-minute flight from Dallas/Fort Worth. “That’s the greatest thing, being so close to home,” she said.
As Texas Rangers fan site Lone Star Ball said about the Lees, “When momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
* If Lee becomes a Yankee, that will be his fifth team in less than two years. Maybe it doesn’t matter, but is that something he wants on his career resume?
There’s no way of knowing for sure now whether Lee will leave the Rangers or not. But I will not be the least bit surprised if he stays with Texas.
What do you think? Tell us about it.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
