Written by
The blockbuster trade, sending Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies and Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners is official!
For the Phillies, they are getting (arguably) the best arm in the American League, at a cost, of course. He has reportedly signed a contract extension worth $60 million, over 3 years.
However, as a Mariners fan, I am most excited about the Cliff Lee aspect of the deal. We are getting one of the top arms in the game. He will be pitching behind Felix Hernandez and they will be the best one-two punch in all of baseball (in my humble opinion).
In Lee, we get a Cy Young Award winner (2008), capable of winning 20, who likes to work late into a game, which will save our bullpen. On top of that, we’re paying him about $6 million this year, for someone who will likely command $18-20 million next year. We had to give up three prospects, who will all likely play at the professional level, but are still a year or two away. Additionally, if the Mariners cannot sign Lee at the end of the season, we will get two high draft picks, to replenish the farm system.
To top this news off, this deal was just one more jab at the division rival Los Angles Angels (of Anaheim). This has been their worst week ever. It started with Chone Figgins, signing with Seattle. Then, they lose John Lackey to Boston. Additionally, they were pursuing Roy Halladay as a replacement for Lackey. Halladay went to Philly and Philly unloaded their top arm to Seattle to get him. But, hey, they got Hideki Matsui, so it wasn’t a complete loss for them.
Anyway, this is going to be an exciting season for the Mariners and I predict a return to the playoffs. You can quote me on that.
(The YouTube video is from Game 1 of the 2009 World Series, where Lee totally dominated and made a few awesome plays.)