Cliff Lee News: Pro Sports Daily

Will Cliff Lee Leave the Seattle Mariners After One Year?

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March 11

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

columnist Cliff Eastham

"When the Philadelphia Phillies sent Cliff Lee to Seattle in order to make room for Rory Halladay, I shook my head. I couldn't understand the concept of sending a No. 1 starter and picking up another one. Lee was not ecstatic to realize the team he helped to the World Series had the door open for him with his hat in their hand. So much for gratitude, eh? He is currently with his third team in less than a year. The Phillies obviously rented him from Cleveland in the middle of last season. Coming off his Cy Young win in 2008, Lee was less than stellar in his 2009 season. After the 22-8 season he was 7-9 with the Tribe before they decided to dump him. He had a 7-4 mark with the Phillies and ..."

Lee passes first Cactus League test in Mariners' victory

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March 11

Tacoma News Tribune

"The much-anticipated Cactus League debut of Cliff Lee was quick, efficient, strike-filled and to the point. Basically the same type of pitching that has helped Lee become one of the top pitchers in all of baseball, and earned him the 2008 American League Cy Young award. Lee pitched three innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking just one batter and striking out one in the Mariners' 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers. He threw a total of 46 pitches with 36 of them being strikes. "I felt like I threw a lot of strikes, used most all of my pitches," Lee said. "I want to locate fastballs. That's the No. 1 thing for me right now. I was pleased with where that was at, so I was able to use ..."

Mariners' Lee keeps pitching in perspective

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March 8

Tacoma News Tribune

"It was a simulated game with minor league hitters on a practice field, with Seattle Mariners pitchers Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee taking turns on the mound. A couple of photographers fired away as Lee faced batters for the first time all spring, then checked their photos. "Look at this, he's smiling," one said. Sure enough. All through his windup, right up to the point of delivering the pitch - and following through - Lee appeared to be grinning. Not straining, not adding extra effort ... smiling. Asked about it later, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner shook his head. "I may be grimacing, I don't know. I know I'm not smiling," Lee said. "The game isn't that easy." Lee's ..."

Lee may finally have a home, but he'll keep options open

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March 5

SI.com

"Cliff Lee might finally have found the right team for him. The Mariners and Lee are taking things slowly, but word is that if everything goes well and he likes his first foray in the Northwest, the Mariners will try hard to lock him up with a new contract. That's something neither of his past two teams (the Indians and Phillies) showed much interest in doing. Which seems either crazy or bad luck, or maybe a bit of both. By all rights, Lee should have a big-league-sized chip on his talented left shoulder following two rejections he neither earned nor deserved. Lee received no contract offer at all from the Indians following his dominating 22-3 Cy Young season in 2008. Then one year later, ..."

Lee's foot passes first spring test

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February 25

Tacoma News Tribune

"Cliff Lee walked up the bullpen mound and threw a pitch Wednesday - and media members from around the nation watched. There were writers from Philadelphia, TV crews from Phoenix and Seattle, radio broadcasters and beat writers lining the fence around the bullpen. General manager Jack Zduriencik? "I've seen Cliff pitch quite a bit," Zduriencik said. "I don't need to see him throw a bullpen session." In a quiet spring camp, the Seattle Mariners' news of the day was Lee testing his left foot, which underwent minor surgery two weeks ago. Lee, who had been walking, doing some drills and resting, said he knew the foot was fine before he took the mound. "It was a test, yes, but I honestly didn't ..."

Lee left mark in stint with Phillies

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February 25

Philadelphia Inquirer

"When Cliff Lee made the play in Game 1 of last year's World Series that defined his Phillies career, the team's relief pitchers were lined up against the plexiglass wall in the bullpen at Yankee Stadium. By the sixth inning, it had long become obvious that the starter would not require assistance, and the relievers could become fans. After Lee induced a one-out pop-up by Johnny Damon, he stood on the mound - back straight, feet planted, mouth almost yawning - and caught it at his waist with an upturned glove. As Brad Lidge recalled, the relievers looked at one another, laughed, and traded stammering reactions: Did you see that? Was that even real? Did he just do that? Now that he is gone, ..."

Now with Seattle, Lee claims he's moved on from Phillies

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February 25

Philadelphia Daily News

"On the first day he threw off the mound this spring, there were no outward signs that Cliff Lee hadn't been with the Seattle Mariners for years. He smiled and joked with his teammates as they ran through pitchers' fielding practice. He jogged comfortably from field to field at the Peoria Sports Complex. He appeared to be, well, right at home. Just looking at him, the pitcher who came across as genuinely anguished about being traded from the Phillies to the Mariners a week after the winter meetings last December, was over it. The lefthander who almost instantly won over the notoriously skeptical hearts of Phillies fans, in fact, talked a lot yesterday about having put certain issues behind ..."

Cliff Lee says foot is fine after throwing first pitches off mound

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February 25

Seattle Times

"Cliff Lee wasn't even thinking about his surgically repaired foot when he stepped on a mound for the first time this spring. Lee was more concerned with being able to land his fastballs for strikes during a 10-minute bullpen session on Tuesday. It was his first since joining the Mariners, and it came 19 days after surgery to remove a bony mass that had cropped up suddenly on his left "push-off" foot. "I didn't at all think about my foot, to be honest with you," Lee said after throwing about 45 pitches to bullpen catcher Jason Phillips. "I was more focused on locating pitches and trying to get my mechanics where they needed to be. The foot thing is basically behind me. I've felt good for a ..."

Cliff Lee has presence, on and off a mound

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February 24

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Cliff Lee has yet to throw from the mound this spring - he'll do that later this morning - but there's not a pitcher in camp who hasn't been watching him. Watching him do what, you ask? "Everything," rookie Nick Hill said. "Everything he does has a purpose. Out here, everyone works hard, so it's not just that. It's the intensity you see, whether it's stretching, whatever. " Lee, 31, has a 90-52 career record and a Cy Young Award to his credit, and pitchers take notice of such things. Coming off minor foot surgery two weeks ago, Lee has been limited to what he has been allowed to do on the field. Still, each morning before stretch, a handful of pitchers - the cast changes daily - gather ..."

What J.A. Happ learned from Cliff Lee

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February 18

Wilmington News Journal

"J.A. Happ is well-aware of all that he accomplished last season, and he knows there's are skeptics, Bill James and Keith Law prominent among them, who doubt he can do it again. "It's understandable," Happ said during a lengthy conversation at his locker. "I mean, people always said, 'He doesn't have a chance to get to the big leagues,' because of my fastball or whatever. Those guys are always going to be there. Am I going to do as well? Maybe not. I don't know. I definitely had a good year last year, and if I don't repeat the exact year, then I don't." Happ, if you can't tell, is one of the most reflective and insightful players in the Phillies', or any other, clubhouse. Had a chance ..."

Mariners' Cliff Lee reports to camp, should only miss about a week

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February 18

Seattle Times

"Joining his new team fresh off foot surgery wasn't exactly the Mariners debut ace pitcher Cliff Lee had in mind. But to hear Lee tell it, he's actually relieved that he'll only be missing a little more than a week's worth of full-speed action as pitchers and catchers begin working out Thursday morning. Lee was far more anxious a few weeks back when he first began feeling pain on the top of his left "push-off" foot as he threw in preparation for camp. "I tried to pretend like it wasn't there for a couple of days," Lee said after taking his mandatory team physical along with other pitchers and catchers here on Wednesday. "I was throwing, working out. I knew something was up. I knew something ..."

Mariners' Cliff Lee out about 3 weeks after minor foot surgery

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February 9

Seattle Times

"With pitchers and catchers opening camp in nine days, the Mariners revealed that newly acquired left-hander Cliff Lee underwent foot surgery last week. However, general manager Jack Zduriencik said Monday he does not believe the operation will hamper Lee's preparation for the 2010 season. The former Cy Young Award winner is expected to combine with Felix Hernandez to give the Mariners a potent one-two punch atop their rotation. The procedure, performed last Friday in Little Rock, Ark., by Dr. Bryan Burke, was to remove a floating spur in Lee's left foot that recently broke loose. The Mariners said in a release that the surgery will alleviate irritation and discomfort in the foot and ..."

Cliff Lee to miss start of camp after foot surgery

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February 9

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Newly acquired starting pitcher Cliff Lee will miss the start of the Seattle Mariners spring training after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur on his left foot Friday, the team announced Monday. Lee, 31, had surgery in Little Rock, Ark., after a spur in his foot recently broke loose. Lee will not require a cast and will return to normal baseball activities over a period of two to three weeks, the team said. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the team's facility in Peoria, Ariz., in nine days on Feb. 17, meaning Lee will apparently be sidelined at least for the first week or so. "We decided Lee should have the surgery as soon as possible, rather than try to pitch with ..."

Cliff Lee wants long term relationship

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January 24

Wilmington News Journal

"Surely, y'all saw this, but just in case … The Mariners finally got around to holding an introductory press conference yesterday for Cliff Lee, and at one point, he was asked about his next contract. "I want a 10-year deal," Lee said, "for about $200 billion." Cue the laugh track. But, seriously, Lee (AP photo) can be a free agent next winter, and although he'd begun negotiations with the Phillies before the trade, it's widely believed he's seeking a longer-term deal than the three-year extensions given to Roy Halladay and Joe Blanton. Why wouldn't he? In the past three offseasons, Johan Santana got six years from the Mets, CC Sabathia got seven from the Yankees and John Lackey got five ..."

No golf? No beer? No dog? Who is this guy?

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January 23

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

columnist Jim Moore

"As you no doubt know by now, I measure a man differently than most. It truly shouldn't matter if a guy plays golf, drinks beer and owns a dog, but it does to me. That said, I don't know what to make of Cliff Lee, who was introduced to the Seattle-area media Friday afternoon at Safeco Field. Lee might give the Mariners a pair of aces and a reasonable shot at the 2010 World Series, but he doesn't golf, he drinks beer maybe once a month, and he kind-of has a dog but really doesn't. Using veteran journalistic savvy that has gotten me absolutely nowhere in life, I unearthed these Cliff Lee nuggets from his wife while other reporters chased the more pertinent baseball story with her husband. ..."

Mariners welcome Lee - feeling's mutual

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January 23

Tacoma News Tribune

"Cliff Lee donned the Seattle Mariners hat and slipped on the No. 36 white home jersey over his dark-blue shirt. He buttoned a few buttons, then looked out at the assembled media and Mariners front-office employees on hand at Safeco Field. "It's a nice fit," he said. Not missing a beat, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik replied, "That's what we hope." After being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Dec. 16 in a trade for three minor league prospects, Lee was officially introduced to the local media Friday afternoon, a day after his soon-to-be teammate Felix Hernandez was in Seattle to sign his five-year, $78 million extension. The two aces never crossed paths in the 48-hour ..."

Cliff Lee looks forward to pitching in Safeco Field with Mariners defense behind him

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January 23

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Cliff Lee donned the Seattle Mariners hat and slipped on the No. 36 white Mariners home jersey over his dark blue button-up shirt. With each arm through the sleeves, he buttoned a few buttons and looked out at the assembled media and Mariners front office employees on-hand at Safeco Field. "It's a nice fit," he said. Not missing a beat, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik replied, "That's what we hope." After being acquired in a trade for three minor league prospects from the Philadelphia Phillies on Dec. 16, 2009, Lee was officially introduced to the local media on Friday afternoon, a day after his soon-to-be teammate Felix Hernandez was in Seattle to sign his 5-year, $78 million ..."

Now That Cliff Lee Is In Seattle, Who Will Be Next?

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December 18

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"So this week the Mariners pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster trades in the history of baseball. By landing Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, Seattle has found itself in the American League West Pennant talks once again. GM Jack Zduriencik stated earlier this week that the deal was not the last for Seattle and he is looking to improve the team in any way he can. So the biggest question is who is next? Let's look at the list of players out there, Jason Bay It's old, I know, Jason Bay, everyone wants to talk about where Bay is going, and for how much? But Seattle does have some factors playing in their favor. Bay, who was born in British Columbia, played his college ball at the University of ..."

Cliff Lee and Chone Figgins Make Seattle Mariners Team To Beat In AL West

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December 18

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

columnist Joe Hojnacki

"The Seattle Mariners have become the team to beat in the American League West with the additions of Chone Figgins and Cliff Lee. They now have a one-two punch in both their lineup and pitching rotation that makes them stronger than any other team in the division. Let's start with the offense. This is what the Mariners projected offense looks like with their 2009 bating line (AVG/OBP/SLG) according to U.S.S. Mariner , the best Mariners blog on the Internet:"

Lee happy to be a Mariner - kinda, sorta

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December 18

Tacoma News Tribune

"Cliff Lee said all the right things. He's excited about the opportunity with the Seattle Mariners, about pitching with Felix Hernandez, about the prospect of playing in pitcher-friendly Safeco Field and about having the likes of Franklin Gutierrez, Ichiro Suzuki and Jack Wilson playing defense behind him. But even over a conference call from Puerto Rico, while he tried to remain positive about his team and new situation, Lee couldn't hide a tinge of disappointment in his voice. It's not that he's upset about being traded to Seattle. It's that he never expected it. "At first, I didn't believe it. I thought we were working out an extension with the Phillies," Lee said. "I thought I was ..."

McGrath: Cliff Lee just might grow to like Seattle

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December 18

Tacoma News Tribune

columnist John McGrath

"Seattle Mariners fans shouldn't take it personally that Cliff Lee's reaction upon hearing he had been traded didn't include a clenched fist. Well, a fist could've been made, but it wasn't because Lee was stoked to be leaving the two-time defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies for the chance to join a team that hasn't contended for the playoffs since text-message became a verb. During a conference call with reporters Thursday, Lee vowed, more than once, "to try to make the most" of his unanticipated relocation to Seattle. Lee won't be a free agent until next year, and, as he pointed out, he isn't empowered yet to veto a trade. "With me being at the mercy of the team," he ..."

Cliff Lee initially had "shock" and "disbelief" over trade, but says he'll keep open mind

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December 18

Seattle Times

"Safe to say this trade to the Mariners caught Cliff Lee a little off-guard. He'd been deer hunting on his property in Arkansas when his wife phoned him Monday to tell him of all the rumors on TV. He had his agent phone the Phillies and said the team downplayed it, so he just assumed they were rumors. Then, on Tuesday, he was hunting again along the Mississippi River when GM Ruben Amaro phoned to tell him he'd been dealt. He spent Wednesday absorbing the deal, then, earlier today, flew to Puerto Rico for a pre-planned vacation (guy gets around). By the time he did a conference call from there with reporters moments ago, you could still hear some irritation as he discussed the move. "At ..."

Lee shocked, not bitter about trade

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December 18

Camden Courier-Post

"Cliff Lee was hunting along the Mississippi River near his Arkansas home Tuesday, waiting to hear from his agent about the counterproposal they had sent to the Phillies as part of a contract negotiation. Instead, Ruben Amaro Jr. called to tell Lee he'd been traded. "At first, I didn't believe it," Lee said on a conference call Thursday night, his first public statement since being sent to the Seattle Mariners in the companion trade to the Phillies' deal for Roy Halladay, "because I thought we were working out an extension with the Phillies, and I thought I was going to spend the rest of my career there." According to Lee, the Phillies made him a contract offer "seven to 10 days" before ..."

Lee didn't expect or want surprise trade from Phillies

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December 18

Philadelphia Daily News

"IF THERE'S ONE part that bewilders Cliff Lee, it's how quickly everything changed, like a pitcher who takes a one-hitter into the seventh inning then gets knocked out of the game without recording another out. One day he thought he was negotiating a long-term contract extension with the Phillies. Almost before he knew what hit him, he had been traded to the Seattle Mariners as part of a sprawling deal encompassing four teams, two former No. 1 draft picks and a pair of Cy Young Award winners: Lee and Roy Halladay. Last night, on a conference call with the Seattle media, Lee made it clear that he was stunned by this turn of events and that he still isn't certain what went wrong. "That's a ..."

Cliff Lee was once suspended for throwing at...Ken Griffey Jr.

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December 17

Seattle Times

"Newest Mariner Cliff Lee has a bit of a history with the pre-eminent Mariner, Ken Griffey Jr. At the time -- June of 2004 -- it wasn't pleasant, but enough distance has passed that I'm sure the two will share a laugh or two about it in spring training while reminiscing. It's part of baseball, and Junior's not the type to hold a grudge. During an interleague game on June 13, 2004, at Cleveland's Jacobs Field, Lee gave up Griffey's 499th homer leading off the third inning. Griffey stepped up again in the fourth, runners on second and third, two outs, looking for the milestone blast. Indians pitching coach Carl Willis (recently hired by the Mariners as minor-league pitching coordinator, ..."

It's a done deal — Mariners acquire Cliff Lee

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December 17

Seattle Times

"Only eight days before nailing down ace Cliff Lee for their rotation, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik and confidants sat in an Indianapolis hotel suite contemplating a serious setback in their pursuit of pitching. It was Dec. 8, near the end of the second day of baseball's winter meetings, and Zduriencik and company had just heard that Texas had outbid them for free-agent pitcher Rich Harden. It shot down one of the team's top pitching targets, and the Mariners suddenly knew their goal of landing a starter was not going to happen at the meetings. But the next day, a conversation with Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. dramatically altered Seattle's fortunes and started the ..."

Phils dealt Lee to replenish prospects

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December 17

Philadelphia Inquirer

"In the last year, the Phillies have traded away seven of their top 10 prospects, as rated by Baseball America before the 2009 season. That, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said, is a cause for concern.While acquiring a former Cy Young Award winner, the Phillies dealt another in Cliff Lee to Seattle for three prospects in an attempt to replenish the farm system. In return, the Phillies received pitchers Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez, and outfielder Tyson Gillies from the Mariners.Amaro characterized the Lee deal as a necessity for the future of the organization. "We could not leave the cupboard bare," Amaro said. "If we had just acquired Roy and not moved Lee, we would have ..."

Was it worth dealing Lee? Phillies will see

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December 17

Philadelphia Daily News

"THE ONLY thing that changed was the nameplate. The pinstripes were the same, the bleach white background was the same and, yes, the number was the same. Yesterday, in front of a packed conference room at Citizens Bank Park, Roy Halladay smiled as he slipped on his new Phillies jersey, a virtual replica of the one Cliff Lee slipped off less than 2 months ago after the last of his four brilliant postseason starts.Turns out, there wasn't enough room in town for two No. 34s."A baseball decision," was how general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. described the Phillies' rationale for trading Lee to the Mariners for pitching prospects Phillippe Aumont and Juan Ramirez and outfield prospect Tyson Gillies. ..."

Rich Hofmann: Hey Phillies: Why not Lee and Halladay?

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December 17

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Rich Hofmann

"THE DREAM DIES hard - and please pardon those among us who are not quite ready to let it go. Because you can acknowledge, on the one hand, that acquiring Roy Halladay was a wonderful move for the Phillies and still recognize, on the other hand, that Halladay combined with Cliff Lee at the top of the Phillies' rotation would have provided 2010 with the underpinnings of unforgettable. The question: what price glory? Phillies president David Montgomery swears that money is not the reason that Lee and his $9 million salary are not here. He says that if the organization had not felt so strapped by trading away what general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said were seven of its Top 10 prospects, that ..."

The trade is officially done -- Cliff Lee is a Mariner

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December 17

Tacoma News Tribune

"Cliff Lee is a Mariner. After much speculation and a lot of waiting, the former Cy Young winner will be a Mariner next season. Despite reports of a three-team deal, it was just a straight trade with the Phillies with Lee coming to Seattle for Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies and JC Ramirez. From the press release . .. "We are very excited to have Cliff Lee on-board in the Seattle organization," GM Jack Zduriencik said "It goes without saying what a quality pitcher and competitor he is and what he will mean to our ballclub and organization. "I also want to congratulate Philadelphia and Toronto on how this whole deal was handled. We gave up three very nice prospects to Philadelphia. I think ..."

Official: Phillies acquire Roy Halladay from Blue Jays, trade pitcher Cliff Lee to Mariners

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December 16

Wilmington News Journal

"As expected, the Phillies have acquired right-hander Roy Halladay and cash considerations from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league right-hander Kyle Drabek, outfielder Michael Taylor and catcher Travis d'Arnaud. Additionally, Halladay agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Phillies that includes a $20 million vesting option for a fourth season. Halladay, 32, went 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA and nine complete games in 32 starts for Toronto this past season. He led the American League in complete games and shutouts (4), finished second in innings (239.0), third in ERA, tied for fourth in wins and quality starts (22), and was fifth in strikeouts (208). ..."

Economics drives the team's trade

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December 16

Camden Courier-Post

columnist Martin Frank

"There was this Seinfeld episode where George Costanza, the assistant to the traveling secretary for the Yankees, was telling team owner George Steinbrenner that he had figured out a way to get Ken Griffey and Barry Bonds, who at the time were in the primes of their careers, "and we wouldn't have to give up that much." The laugh-track ran, and the possibility was quickly dismissed. We can only imagine that Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro was describing a similar scenario to team president David Montgomery, where he had figured out a way to get Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay to join Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels to give the Phillies a starting rotation that would easily become the best ..."

Is trading an ace for another ace a step up?

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December 16

Camden Courier-Post

columnist Martin Frank

"There was a "Seinfeld" episode where George Costanza, the assistant to the traveling secretary for the New York Yankees, was telling team owner George Steinbrenner that he had figured out a way to get Ken Griffey and Barry Bonds, who at the time were in the primes of their careers, "and we wouldn't have to give up that much." The laugh-track ran, and the possibility was quickly dismissed, a fantasy by every stretch of the imagination, even for the Yankees. We can only imagine that Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro was describing a similar scenario to team president David Montgomery, where he had figured out a way to get Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay to join Cliff Lee and Cole ..."

Halladay as Phil all but announced

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December 16

Camden Courier-Post

"The contract negotiation has been completed. The physical has been administered. All that remains is for Ruben Amaro Jr. to stand behind a podium, smile for the cameras, and present a red-pinstriped Phillies jersey to Roy Halladay. It's a moment Amaro has dreamt of for more than a year. And it's about to happen, likely today at Citizens Bank Park. Halladay, the 32-year-old right-hander and six-time All-Star, agreed Tuesday to a three-year contract extension that served as a precursor for concurrent trades, according to two major-league sources. While Halladay will join the Phillies, fellow Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee is bound for Seattle and three Phillies prospects, including ..."

Bob Ford: A reasonable move that could backfire

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December 16

Philadelphia Inquirer

columnist Bob Ford

"The Phillies' decision to replace Cliff Lee with Roy Halladay at the top of their starting rotation, a convoluted process that eventually involved three teams and, at last count, eight players, represents a bold and interesting move. But, as with the disclaimers that accompany stock-market schemes, it does not guarantee future success. Putting together a baseball roster, or keeping together a contender, is a risky business, and it is always a bull market for desirable players. Halladay, who has earned his payday and was going to get it somewhere, will make at least $75 million under his existing contract and the extension he signed with the Phils. It could be he will be worth every dime, ..."

Agent says Lee didn't force Phillies into Halladay deal

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December 16

Philadelphia Daily News

"THERE ARE at least a couple reasons why the Phillies traded Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners in the triangular transaction that fetched Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays instead of keeping both former Cy Young Award winners to form a super-rotation. One, obviously, was money. By moving Lee's $9 million and getting the Jays to kick in $6 million, they pretty much offset Halladay's $15.75 million base salary for 2010 and keep their payroll around $140 million. Another is that this is just what the Phillies do. Club president Dave Montgomery has been consistent on this point. The goal is to try to be one of the final eight teams and then hope to get hot during the postseason. Finally, ..."

Lee's agent disputes description of talks

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December 15

ESPN.com

"Left-hander Cliff Lee's agent stepped forward Tuesday to set the record straight: His client did not force his way out of Philadelphia by overreaching in contract negotiations. Lee, one of baseball premier starting pitchers, is on his way to Seattle as part of a blockbuster trade that will bring Roy Halladay to the Phillies. While Halladay has reportedly agreed to a guaranteed three-year, $60 million contract extension with two vesting options, numerous reports said the Phillies pursued the trade after failing to make any headway in contract talks with Lee. Agent Darek Braunecker disputed the characterization of the talks, telling ESPN.com that he had three brief discussions with the ..."

Sources: Halladay, Phillies reach deal

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December 15

ESPN.com

"Roy Halladay and the Phillies have come to an agreement on a contract that would put in motion a three-team trade that would send the Toronto Blue Jays ace to Philadelphia, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. Halladay was taking his physical Tuesday morning, sources said. The status of the other portions of a companion deal that would include the Seattle Mariners, however, is still uncertain at this point. As of early Tuesday morning, the Phillies were to send their Cy Young Award winner, Cliff Lee, to Seattle, in exchange for pitching prospect Phillippe Aumont and outfielder prospect Tyson Gillies, sources told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. In addition, ProspectInsider.com reported ..."

Mariners holding two aces?

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December 15

Tacoma News Tribune

"The Seattle Mariners were supposed to make a big splash at the baseball winter meetings last week in Indianapolis. With some payroll room and plenty of needs, the Mariners were supposed to make waves in either the free agent market or in trades. Instead, they created ripples by finalizing a deal for free agent third baseman Chone Figgins – a move that had leaked several days before – and departed Indianapolis still with money and needs. But now the Mariners are part of an Internet and hot stove frenzy with speculation that a three-team trade will feature a pair of former American League Cy Young Award winners – Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay. Reports from multiple outlets, including Sports ..."

Halladay coming, Lee going

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December 15

Wilmington News Journal

"After more than a year-long flirtation, the Phillies finally have reached the verge of a long-term relationship with Roy Halladay. To make it happen, though, they are poised to dump Cliff Lee and Kyle Drabek. Halladay and his agent were in Philadelphia on Monday night to negotiate a contract extension that, along with the passage of a routine physical, would complete an intricate three-team trade and at last bring the 32-year-old ace right-hander to the Phillies, according to two major league sources. Initially, those sources indicated Lee would be sent to the Seattle Mariners for three prospects, including touted 6-foot-7 right-hander Phillippe Aumont before the Phillies would flip Aumont ..."

Halladay deal: Just seems like a Cy for a Cy

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December 15

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Bill Conlin

"THE CAROUSEL ridden by major league baseball's 30 teams has something in common with the planet we all ride upon. Earth makes one full revolution around the sun in what we call a year. MLB's merry-go-round makes one full revolution in what we call a season. After trading a kid righthander named Ferguson Jenkins and a couple of bench players to the Cubs for established righthanders Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl, Phillies general manager John Quinn said this: "The golden ring only comes around once a year and when you've got a chance to grab it, you've got to do anything it takes because you may never be that close again." You know the rest of the story. The 1966 Phillies were favored to win ..."

With Cliff Lee heading to the M's, which prospects will be given up?

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December 15

Seattle Times

"Talk about a day of twists and turns, which still isn't quite done yet. But this piece by ESPN columnist Jayson Stark (a longtime Philadelphia beat writer) does a good job of explaining what's been going on. As suspected, this deal was still in the fluid stages all afternoon, with the Blue Jays wanting outfielder Domonic Brown from the Phillies, but being told they could only have Michael Taylor. Prior to that development, Stark writes, the idea was to send Mariners pitching prospect Phillippe Aumont back to his homeland to play for Toronto. But now, with Brown off the table, the deal has been reworked and catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud is going to the Jays along with Taylor and one of ..."

Blue Christmas for Jays fans as Halladay traded

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December 15

Toronto Star

columnist Dave Perkins

"At least we won't need to look at Roy Halladay in a Yankee or Red Sox uniform six or seven times a season. Other than that, there are no positives, at least here, to trading away baseball's best pitcher, even if the Blue Jays were going to have him for only one more season, as was likely. Halladay was a good soldier here and will be greatly missed and if he gets a championship ring someday soon, there probably won't be too many Blue Jay fans who won't be happy for him. Be careful, though, Roy. You've always had your share of weird injuries and you'll need to bat and run now. Remember what happened to Chien-Ming Wang; his career exploded when he rounded third base that time. Still, here's ..."

Phillies reach deal to get Roy Halladay in three-team deal

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December 14

SI.com

columnist Jon Heyman

"The Phillies are in agreement on a three-team trade with the Mariners and Blue Jays to acquire star pitcher Roy Halladay, SI.com has learned. All indications are that Cliff Lee will likely be heading from Philadelphia to Seattle in the trade. Sources say Halladay will agree to a contract extension to complete the deal. It's expected to be a formality, and though terms are not yet clear, it's expected to be worked out in the next couple days. Halladay wanted to be in Philadelphia, as the Phillies train in Clearwater, Fla., not far from his offseason home. The Phillies are giving up prospects to Toronto to get Halladay, but it isn't known yet which players are in the deal. Philadelphia, ..."

Sources: Jays, Phils talk Halladay-Lee blockbuster

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December 14

Foxsports.com

"A three-team blockbuster that would send Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay to the Phillies and Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee to another club is under discussion, according to major-league sources. A straight trade between the Phillies and Jays also is possible. Either way, there are strong indications that the Halladay talks are approaching a critical juncture. The identity of the team that would acquire Lee is not known, but the possibilities would include the Angels, who could be on the verge of losing free-agent right-hander John Lackey to the Red Sox, and the Mariners. Halladay likely would agree to a contract extension with the Phillies to waive his no-trade clause. The Phillies ..."

Aces Lee, Halladay in same deal? It could work

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December 12

Foxsports.com

columnist Ken Rosenthal

"You want a blockbuster? How about one that includes not one, but two former Cy Young Award winners? I have no proof that the Phillies are trying to move left-hander Cliff Lee as part of a three- or four-team trade for Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay. But I've got a hunch. We know the Phillies preferred Halladay to Lee last July. We know they are one of his top choices, an East Coast team that trains close to his home in Dunedin, Fla. And we know from published reports that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. met last week with Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, about a possible contract extension. I'm guessing that discussion did not go well. Both Lee, 31, and Halladay, 32, are free agents after ..."

Around the majors

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November 10

SI.com

(scroll down)

"• Andy Pettitte has indicated to teammates that he is leaning toward returning to the Yankees for one more year. If they need it for further convincing, one of the Yankees' sales points will be that 10-15 more wins will aid his Hall of Fame candidacy. • The Phillies are expected to try to lock up Cliff Lee, though with a year to go before free agency, they'll be looking at something less than nine figures. • While the Phillies declined the option on defensively adept third baseman Pedro Feliz for $5.5 million, they're interested in bringing him back at a slightly lower figure. • The Red Sox will still consider Alex Gonzalez after declining his $6 million option and also look at free agent ..."

Phils exercise Lee's option; Feliz may go

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November 7

Florida Today

"With their first move of the offseason, the Phillies did what was expected: They exercised their $9 million option on ace left-hander Cliff Lee's contract for 2010. That was the easy part. Now, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has more difficult decisions to make, namely whether to stick with third baseman Pedro Feliz. The Phillies have until Monday to pick up their $5.5 million option on Feliz's contract. "He had a solid year for us," Amaro said Friday. "I like the man personally. He's a great person and a great teammate. But I also believe in trying to improve the club, and sometimes change can be for the better." A year ago, Amaro said he was leery of leaving the lineup unchanged from ..."