By the time you read this, Cliff Lee may be a member of the New York Yankees. Or maybe not. I never believe anything until it is announced. I've seen too many deals fall apart at the last minute. Usually about that extra player or money. Or somebody else sweetens their deal. I'm just sayin. It could still collapse.
If it happens, Lee is set to be traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Yankees for top prospect Jesus Montero. Montero is a catcher capable of playing first base. He is known more for his potent bat than his defensive skills behind the plate. But scouts report Montero is improving behind the plate. Every major evaluation system ranks Montero as an up and coming "can't miss" prospect. It is rumored that Yankee INF prospect David Adams may also be part of the deal along with a third player going to Seattle.
As the Lee rumors circulated throughout the past two weeks. scouts were pretty certain Lee was headed to the Yankees. The major reason was the Yankees ability to afford him when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season. In short, this may not be a limited time "rental" but a full time transaction.
What happens to the Yankees rotation? Consider Sabathia, Lee, Burnett, Pettitte, Hughes and Vazquez. Is there an odd man out? Do the Yanks go with a six man rotation because of the age of Pettitte and the youth of Hughes? Is it Phil Hughes back to the bullpen? That might not be the worst idea in the world. Is it a trade for Javier Vazquez that may replenish the minor league organization for the Yankees or bring another bat to the lineup? Needless to say, the Yankees rotation is now beyond description. And how ironic that Lee and Sabathia are together again. How sicker can Indians fans get? This trade really does offer some questions to be answered.
What about the Phillies? They could have had Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay in the same rotation but opted to trade Lee to Seattle. That move drew constant criticism and questions at the time and those same critics will be certain to resurrect the Phillies decision making process. I am right here, right now. I didn't understand that decision at the time and it makes even worse sense now.
Other teams really wanted Lee as well. The Rangers didn't have the catcher the Mariners needed. They have Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Max Ramirez but neither really interested the Yankees. They don't interest the Rangers either. We know that the Rangers have solid bullpen arms in Ogando, Beltre, and Francisco, but they are short in starting pitching. In fact, Tanner Scheppers may be in the rotation before the end of the season. He's a prime prospect in the organization. So Texas probably couldn't meet the Mariners price. And they still have Chris Davis as a first baseman to trade.
What about Minnesota? There was talk about Aaron Hicks (OF), Wilson Ramos (C) and Ben Revere (OF) were offered to Seattle. If that's true, that's one heckuva package. Problem? Ramos isn't hitting like Montero and he doesn't have the upside of Montero. For me, that package is very, very attractive. I would really have to think over and over before I turned down three of the top Minnesota Twins best prospects for a guy (Lee) I knew I couldn't sign at the end of the season.
What about Tampa Bay? Word was that they never really got in the mix for Lee. They'd love to have him, but it would have been a rental only because they couldn't afford to sign Lee to a contract moving forward.
There has always been a feeling among baseball people that Lee has wanted to be a Yankee. Even when he was with Cleveland. Now he gets his wish. The Yankees will hold the keys to Cliff Lee's kingdom. What team can better pay Cliff Lee than the New York Yankees.
And Montero? He'll probably finish the season in the minor leagues and perhaps get a September call up. But by next season, it would seem certain Jesus Montero will be behind the plate for Seattle.
Next on the pitching hit list? How about Roy Oswalt, Dan Haren, Javier Vazquez and Jake Westbrook? Maybe all star Fausto Carmona as well. Suitors? the Reds, the Twins, the Mets, the Rays, the Rangers, the Red Sox, and the Angels head the list. Frankly, the Reds probably have the deepest farm system to meet the needs of any of the teams holding pitching chips. But the Reds really like their minor league prospects. Any combination that could include players like Yonder Alonso, Todd Frazier, Chris Valaika, Chris Dicerson or others has to make general managers sit up and take notice. For me, if the Reds could sign a Haren or Vazquez long term, a combination of the players I named above would be outstanding. If it's a rental only, the deals don't make sense. Compensation draft picks for losing star players make more sense.
Haren cost the Diamondbacks the bulk of their "major league ready" prospects when the Diamondbacks got him from Oakland. The centerpiece of that deal was Carlos Gonzalez. How would an outfield that included Cargo and Carlos Quentin look in Phoenix? But then, who would have taken Haren's starts in Phoenix? That's the trouble with hindsight.
Oswalt? Oh would the Rangers like Oswalt. He already has a following in Texas. The Astros can use almost anyone they can get from Texas. Name the position and it's likely an upgrade.
We still don't know if Lee is going to New York. It isn't official. If he is going to the Bronx, I don't see a team in the American League that can match them in a short series. Lee and Sabathia are in every game they pitch. Then we have an improving Burnett and a solid, solid Andy Pettitte. Pettitte is light's out in the playoffs. We'll see. This is just the beginning of what could be a wild trading period.
Strap yourself in and enjoy.