Following a Yankee victory, late last night while many on the east coast slept Brian Cashman began to discuss Cliff Lee with the team that was just beat by the bombers. Many media outlets were reporting that a deal was close to done, with Cliff Lee heading to NY and the Mariners receiving Jesus Montero,David Adams and another prospect. Last minute the M's backed out according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports because of Adams ankle injury. The Mariners then turned to the Texas Rangers and traded Lee to them for Justin Smoak a young first baseman and three prospects.The Yankees were annoyed at how the M's backed out and one Yankees official was quoted as saying "You just don't do business that way" according to Rosenthal.
With all the hoopla surrounding Lebron James and his decsion to go to Miami and create an All Star team with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh this trade would have done the same for the Yankees(My opinion on Lebron is he took the easy way out,and should have stayed in Cleveland). The Yankees would have actually had too much starting pitching had they added Lee this season. With the rotation the way it is currently with CC,A.J,Pettitte,Hughes and Javy their isn't anyone you can clearly just remove. CC and Andy would not be removed in any way since they are both having all star seasons. Vazquez could have been possibly traded but has pitched the best of the starting five since May 12th pitching to a 3.05 ERA. Javy is in his last contract year, and has a partial no trade clause. A.J is owed so much money that it wouldn't make sense to put him in the bullpen and make it hard for the Yanks to trade him. Hughes hasn't pitched as well the past few starts but still has had a break out season, he is still 80 innings away from his innings limit. So if Lee was traded to the Yanks it would have made the most sense to go with a six man rotation until Hughes reached his inning limit and then use him in the bullpen.
When they first announced the trade look near for the Yankees, I wasn't too thrilled at the idea of adding a pitcher that they really don't need. Then the thoughts of the famous Sports Illustrated with George Steinbrenner and the 2003 Yankees, with the headline saying "You can never have enough pitching". I also though about how great the post season rotation would be come (aside from the fact the rotation will look like something out of a video game). The negative about the deal would be killing the farm system by removing Zach Mcallister,David Adams and Jesus Montero for a player that can be easily bought this winter.Maybe its the arrogance of being a Yankees fan but the Yanks are going to get Lee this off season anyways so why trade away a top hitter like Montero who has been compared to Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. In the mean time I was happier that the Yankees would not be facing Lee tonight and with the Texas Rangers being in a financial mess it seems very unlikely they would be able to re-sign him.
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