Phillies Thwart Yankees, Rangers to Get Cliff Lee Back

Pitcher accepts late bid to return to his 2009 team
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 14, 2010 8:05 AM CST
Cliff Lee Returning to Philadelphia Phillies Despite Higher Bid by New York Yankees
In an Oct. 18, 2009 photo Philadelphia Phillies' Cliff Lee pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship baseball series in Philadelphia.   (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Phillies fans are rejoicing today as Cliff Lee, the left-hander who pitched for the team during the 2009 World Series, returned—giving the team one of the best rotations in history. Terms were agreed to late last night, an official tells the New York Times. The deal is believed to be for at least five years and $100 million: less than he was offered by the New York Yankees, but Lee, apparently, never wanted to leave Philadelphia.

Until the Phillies swooped in, the Yankees and the Texas Rangers were the top two teams fighting for Lee. After being traded away from the Phillies last December, the pitcher went from the Seattle Mariners to the Rangers—and helped lead the Rangers to this year’s World Series. The Yankees, who bid seven years and around $150 million, have been trying to get Lee ever since the Mariners traded him to the Rangers in July.
(More Phillies stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X