All along, Cliff Lee has seemed destined to go to the Yankees. Lee, the All-Star left-hander, is eligible for free agency after this season, and the Yankees’ deep budget would give them a major advantage in signing him. But Lee, it turns out, might be joining the Yankees much sooner.
The Yankees and the Mariners have made progress toward a Lee trade, according to an official involved in the talks, who added that the final decision is now up to the Mariners. The official was granted anonymity because the deal has not been completed. Joel Sherman of the New York Post broke the story, reporting that the Yankees’ trade package would include catcher Jesus Montero and infielder David Adams.
Lee is scheduled to pitch against the Yankees at Safeco Field on Friday night, so a deal could be finalized quickly. Lee would give the Yankees four All-Stars in their starting rotation, joining C.C. Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes. It would also free the Yankees to trade another starter – presumably Javier Vazquez – for offense or bullpen help before the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline.
Lee, who won the 2008 A.L. Cy Young Award for Cleveland, beat the Yankees twice in the 2009 World Series, when he pitched for Philadelphia, and also won the first game at the new Yankee Stadium last season. He is 8-3 with a 2.34 earned run average this season, with 89 strikeouts and just six walks.more information...
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/
