Free agent southpaw Cliff Lee‘s signing with the Phillies actually has had quite a ripple effect — beyond the fact that it allows other free agent signings to happen.
The biggest initial one is that the Yankees missed out on every major free agent of this offseason. That’s especially bad as Lee was their primary — and possibly only — target of this year’s big three that also included Carl Crawford (Red Sox) and Jayson Werth (Nationals).
Secondly, the already perennial postseason Phillies may have just created the best rotation since the mid-1990s Atlanta Braves.
The third is that will mean big-time dollars for CC Sabathia.
Sabathia has an opt-out clause next offseason from the monster contract he signed two years ago. Lee’s average of $24 million a year makes him baseball’s highest-paid pitcher.
Right now, Sabathia says he won’t be opting out. But if he does, the Yankees will need to throw a lot of money at Sabathia for the second time in three years.
