Stephen A. Smith: Cliff Lee Made Right Choice To Sign With Phillies
Confession Time: As a native New Yorker, upon first hearing the news that Cliff Lee had spurned the Yankees and the $148 million they threw at him, to say I was stunned doesn’t begin to describe my feelings. A franchise with 27 World Series titles, that places itself in position to elevate those numbers on a year-to-year basis, should never get turned down by anyone who claims to be about winning.
With that in mind, I’d love to say it was a horrible decision for Lee to spurn the Yankees, but the truth is … nothing can be further from the truth. In fact, the only thing that can be said, in light of Lee agreeing to a five-year, $120 million deal with the Phillies, is that his decision to return to Philadelphia was the right one.
By a landslide.
In this day and time, if you turn down $28 million – no matter how much money you’ve already pocketed – there needs to be a quality reason. Similar possibilities at success would be one reason. Comfort level would be right up there. And happiness usurps everything. For you and your family.
Considering that Lee joins Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels – unquestionably compiling the best rotation in Major League Baseball, and he’s returning to a Phillies’ team and clubhouse he never wanted to leave after helping them to the World Series in 2009 – it’s fair to say Lee accomplished all of his goals in this matter.
So much for wondering why he passed up the Yankees and Texas Rangers.
“We’re like, “Whoa,’” Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino told MLB.com Monday night. “I had heard about this mystery team. I was like, ‘There’s no way it’s us.’ Then I heard the Phillies were back in it.”
There’s no need to hear anything else.
The Phillies are clearly the team to beat now. Some would say in the National League. Let it be said right here they are the team to beat in all of Major League Baseball.
It doesn’t matter that the Yankees re-signed Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. It doesn’t even matter than the Boston Red Sox have added Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to their vaunted roster. Nobody cares that the San Francisco Giants return next season as reigning, defending World Series champions, or that St. Louis or Atlanta are seen as potential road blocks to Philly’s success in the National League.
“Pitching is what wins for you in baseball,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel once told me. “If there’s one thing I’d teach anybody about baseball, it’s that. You need other things for sure. It’s not the only thing. But it is definitely the one thing you’re not winning without.”
Upon witnessing what Lee has done in recent post-seasons, it’s practically mind-boggling how he’s ended up on this particular Phillies roster. If not flat-out unfair.
Lee has a career postseason record of 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA. Omit the 0-2 record with a 6.94 ERA in two games vs. San Francisco in the World Series this past October and he has been virtually flawless in October, when it matters most. His record, especially against the Yankees, says as much.
Add to that a teammate in Halladay who pitched two no-hitters last season, including a perfect game, a stud in Oswalt and Hamels, “and you’ve got one of the best pitching staffs in recent memory, if not the best,” Fox MLB Analyst Ken Rosenthal told me Tuesday. “I’m just shocked. But clearly, the Phillies were lurking. As well they should have.
“Lee’s affection for Philadelphia is obvious. He never wanted to leave. He was devastated when they traded three prospects to Toronto for Halladay, knowing their concerns about a depleted farm system and escalated payroll would force them to trade him to Seattle. He wanted to play with Halladay. He wanted to hit in the National League, not just pitch. He wanted to be back in that clubhouse. Now he’s got his wish.”
As do the Phillies.
Lee’s arrival could not have happened at a better time because, let’s face it: They’re neither the team that won it all in 2008, nor the squad that went to the World Series in 2009. Who knows how much longer they have?
Jayson Werth, their only right-handed power hitter, stole a $126 million contract from the Washington Nationals. Both Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley have struggled with injuries and are not getting any younger. Victorino just turned 30, joining the rest of the Phillies’ clan. More pressure is mounting on Ryan Howard because of the $125 million deal he signed, so who knows how he’ll respond? And then there are always finances to consider.
While the Phillies should be applauded for opening their vault, their general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., still has a few things to take care of.
There’s the issue of $17 million being owed to Joe Blanton over the next two years that needs to be shepherded. The same can be said for the $11.5 million owed to Raul Ibanez. In total, there was $150 million committed to 17 players – before Lee agreed to sign. And for all the flexing the Phillies have done with their wallets in recent memory, rivaling the Yankees and the Red Sox for supremacy in that department, we all know they’ll only go so far.
There are potentially expiring deals after next season involving Oswalt, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and Rollins, along with Ibanez. So this team may not be what Lee thought it would be just 11 months from now.
Reasons for concern?
Of course! But that’s down the road.
For now, the Phillies are the class of baseball from top to bottom. And Lee’s decision to return only buffers that growing reality.
Instead of staying in a tax-free state like Texas or signing with a Yankees squad known for using $200 million payrolls on an annual basis to keep them relevant and perpetually competitive, Lee chose to return to Philadelphia, essentially, due to Brotherly Love.
If that doesn’t speak volumes about the Phillies’ future, what does?
Read more from Stephen A. Smith at StephenA.com.
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