In an unsurprising turn of events, the Phillies placed Cliff Lee on waivers yesterday. There were some rumors that the Yankees had talked to the Phillies about trading for the starting pitcher before the trade deadline, but only to hit an impasse when the Phillies GM Ruben Amaro demanded top prospects and refused to include money. Now that we’re into August, players must be put on waivers to be traded. If Lee clears waivers, or the Yankees put in a claim, there is a possibility the left hander could finally wear pinstripes.
To be honest, I thought the time of Lee in pinstripes had passed when he rejected a reported 7 year $150 million deal, only to take a discount with the Phillies. I would assume the Yankees believed so too by publicly stating that they are attempting to reach a $189m budget in 2014, and were unlikely to take on any big contracts. However, the Yankees recent interest in July, and the absence of the team from his no-trade clause, continues to inspire speculation that a trade could happen.
Taking on his full contract would put the Yankees a little under $220m for this year, a guaranteed $135m next year, and $100m in the budgeted 2014 season. For 2012, I don’t foresee an issue taking on his money considering the team could be seeing insurance money from the massive amount of injuries. However, the team’s future money is largely locked up in aging stars, and Lee is already on the wrong side of 30. It’s hard to imagine what the team would have to do to the 2014 lineup to keep Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson on a team with $100m already committed to a $189m budget.
Of course, there is always a way to make these things happen, and the Yankees could certainly trade for young talent to offset the 30 and 40 year olds. Assuming Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, David Robertson, and Brett Gardner can continue to be productive, there are surprisingly few holes to fill in 2014.
For now, it’s hard to imagine that the Phillies could get much for Lee’s back-loaded contract, so it shouldn’t take much prospect-wise. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised for the team to dump his salary on anybody willing to make a waiver claim. There’s a slim chance it happens, but Cliff Lee in the rotation is still something to drool over.
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3 Responses to Taking On Cliff Lee’s Contract
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TIQ IQ
If the Yankees were to make a deal like this, it would be a clear sign of a win-now approach — an effort to capitalize on the window of opportunity that still exists with the aging core, while letting tomorrow take care of itself. This doesn’t sound like Cashman’s style. Possibly such a trade would signal that someone else (Hal? Hank? Randy?) has set the target.
As for your optimism about 2014 — “Assuming Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, David Robertson, and Brett Gardner can continue to be productive, there are surprisingly few holes…” — I see little grounds for such a rosy view. Nova is at best a mid-rotation starter, Pineda is hurt, Gardner is hurt and hardly a star when healthy, and Robertson is a set-up guy (though an excellent one). And I cringe at the thought of what the $100 million committed already in 2014 would buy. Lee and Sabathia trending downward, A-Rod hobbling, Tex telling us .230 is fine so long as he drives in 85+ runs, and Jeter not quite ready to hang ‘em up and the organization too afraid of the media/fan reaction to tell him to take a hike. Am I spinning this too harshly? Perhaps, but I submit I’m no more unrealistic in my pessimism than you are in your upbeat interpretation.
I actually agree with pretty much everything you said. Lee’s contract is way too big and bulky, which is why I assessed the money aspect the most. For a guy in his mid-30′s with $100m left on the contract, no thanks. That said, the team does have a fair amount of money locked up in the key positions, so it wouldn’t be that ridiculous to think the remaining $50 million could keep the team afloat. That’s pretty much the payroll for 20% of the teams.
He would fill out the roster wonderfully, but the contract will keep the Yankees old. I don’t really see a right or wrong answer though.
Yes please, I’d take that deal if we’re only picking up cash and not dealing away any prospects. I’d put in the waiver claim and let the Phillies know that I’d take the contract and that’s it.