Cliff Lee To Philly: Who Are The Real Losers, Mets Or Yankees?

I love it when the Yankees get scorned. For a team and fans that act like the spoiled only child, and get whatever it is that they want, it is a bit refreshing to learn that Cliff Lee is headed back to Philadelphia, as reported by the New York Post.

According to the Post, Lee turned down a 7 year $154M contract and accepted Philly's offer of 5 years and more than $100M, with a sixth year player option. ( deal stands at 120M for 5 years with a reachable 6th year vesting option)

The Yankees were notified that Lee was heading in a different direction, and then shortly there after, Texas was informed that Lee had accepted an offer from the mystery third team (my thought all along), the Phillies.

The question arises though, who is the biggest loser by this signing - the Yankees...or the Mets? The Yankees lost out on a solid lefty who has owned them over the years. They lose out on having a top of the rotation that would have featured CC Sabathia and Lee. They lost out because they were jilted; their money, which always seems to "persuade" free agents, just wasn't enough.

(The big question will be how much of an albatross is this contract after year 3.)

The Mets also lose too. Not that anyone in their right mind expects the Mets to contend with Atlanta or Philadelphia, but if all things remain, what is it going to be like facing a rotation of Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, Hamels...you get the idea. That is one sick rotation.

So Mets fans, once you get over your glee that the Yankees lost out on their target, just remember, the Yankees won't face Lee this year. The Mets will face the Phillies 19 times.