Sigh!....Cliff Lee goes to Philadelphia

Cliff Lee/Courtesy: michael s. wirtz-philly.com

Really, Major League Baseball isn't fair. It's the only game where the rich get richer and the Pittsburgh Pirates are a Triple A team.

Yes, in a move that left Sports Journalists and Philadelphia fans excited, top free agent pitcher Cliff Lee spurned the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers, to sign a 5-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

More from the gloating Philly.com RIGHT HERE

We truly are conflicted here. While we are very happy he didn't go to the Yankees, we are a little disappointed he ended up in the National League East. Particularly a team that already has Roy Halliday, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.

Here is the reaction from an odd sounding...and gushing reporter Ross Klavens from NBC Philadelphia who we suspect may be getting his 1st ever Sports related story.



Now....the part of this we take humor in. The Yankees are not getting any of the "High Priced" Free Agents they wanted. And the New York fans, media and team...are already whining, not understanding how anyone could spurn them.

Enjoy your New York perspective from Mike Lupica of the DailyNews RIGHT HERE

While Daily News columnist Andy Martino says "Surprise"Lee will regret it. RIGHT HERE

There isn't much TV coverage in the Big Apple, so we'll do a quick breakdown. Short of injury, the Phillies are now your team to beat in Baseball. It's safe to compare them to the Miami Heat. We can't fathom how much money they must take in every year, because their payroll is quickly approaching Yankees/Red Sox status.

As for the Yankees, they'll be alright. They still have their mega-gazillionaire's in the field and C.C Sabbathia on the mound. Sure, they'll have to rely on Andy Pettite to be good--and healthy, but they will hit well enough to win most of the time.

The only potential saving grace here is that the team with the biggest salary doesn't always win the World Series. The San Francisco Giants proved that again this year. We hope that trend will continue, because as much as we like baseball, we really don't want to see a forgone conclusion before the season even starts.

An oldie, but something you'll probably here in Philly....

BREAKING NEWS: Cliff Lee To Texas, Not The Yanks

((HT: Fan590/Toronto))

Multiple sources are reporting that the Seattle Mariners have traded starting pitcher Cliff Lee and reliever Mark Lowe to the Texas Rangers for first baseman Justin Smoak and three others.

This flew in the face of every other report that had the Mariners other-ace heading to the Yankees as a done deal...

Earlier in the day in the New York Post, the Yankees were planning on sending prized catching prospect Jesus Montero to Seattle as part of a package deal.

Other teams reportedly interested in the 31-year-old veteran were the Mets and Twins.

According to CBS11/KTVT's Gina Miller and her Twitter Feed, Smoak walked out of a meeting a few minutes ago in the Rangers clubhouse.

A 6PM eastern presser had been scheduled and the Rangers clubhouse was closed to reporters and other non-Rangers personnel.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post has the deal as: RHP Blake Beavan, OF Matthew Lawson, reliever Cory Lueke, and Justin Smoak for Lee, reliever Mark Lowe, and cash to cover Lee's salary since the Rangers are in bankruptcy proceedings at present.

SI's Jon Heyman adds that Chris Davis is being called up to the big club for Texas.

Here's a little bit of the press conference explaining the trade with the front office and Rangers Manager Ron Washington
((HT: KTVT-TV Dallas))


Here's what Mariners fans are missing with the trade
((HT: MLB/Seattle Mariners/sporto10101010))