Posted: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 7:37 PM | 55 comments |
 

Lee on trade: 'At first, I didn't believe it'
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Who would you rather have, Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee?
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Cliff Lee
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Cliff Lee was introduced to the Seattle media in a conference call tonight, but many of the questions were about his departure from the Phillies.

Lee was traded yesterday for three prospects as a precursor to the deal that brought Roy Halladay to the Phillies.

“At first I didn’t believe it," Lee said of the trade. "I thought we were working out an extension with the Phillies and I was going to spend the rest of my career there. That’s when I guess you know it’s a business ...

“Disbelief. Shock. Initially I was disappointed," Lee said when asked to expound on his emotions. "Obviously, it was great being part of a team that went to the World Series for the second year in a row and I was looking forward to trying for a third. That’s a great group of guys. I enjoyed every second I was there. Now I’m in Seattle and I have to make the best of it.”

Many fans wanted the Phillies to keep Lee and get Halladay, making for a superstar rotation with Cole Hamels.

“I was told it was possible," Lee said. "I heard two different stories. I think the Phillies would have liked that to have happened, but they didn’t want to diminish their farm system. That’s their prerogative. They’re trying run a business and you have to respect that. Until you have a full no-trade clause, you’re at their mercy.”

Read more in tomorrow's Daily News

 


 
Posted by Paul Hagen @ 7:37 PM  Permalink | 55 comments
55
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:56 PM, 12/17/2009
    Disbelief. Shock. Disappointment. Sounds like us Phillies fans, Cliff. Reality check....can the Phillies really compete with the Yanks, and red cox? Or were we fooling ourselves?
    — road515
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:18 PM, 12/17/2009
    What did he expect? He wanted a 5-6 year deal. He didn't want anything to do with a 3-4 year contract. The Phillies had to trade him. It's a smart move, they are the "Gold Standard."
    — phillyart
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:32 PM, 12/17/2009
    Phils did not need to sign Lee, if he was asking for 5-6. Keep him for 1 year at 9 Mill and then if he walks, collect 2 draft picks. They only got 3 prospects. Why not keep him for a relative bargain at 9 mill and get 2 prospects instead of 3?
    — P Even
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:34 PM, 12/17/2009
    It sucks lee had to go out like this, but I think the phillies should be cut some slack on whatever they decide, They did end 25 years of misery in this city.
    — smiggs13
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:42 PM, 12/17/2009
    Tragic. To have one of the top pitchers in the league, one who came through for us in so many ways, traded for a few "ifs" hurts. I know, I know. I understand the philosophy of the business and bottom line. I just know that WS victories are few and far between (try two in over 100 years!) to mess with next year for a less "possible" year after next. I don't think the way things go the Phils CAN solidify anything past the next year. Honestly. Next year was such a strong possiblity with Cliff Lee and Halladay I would take next year for a less likely shot at the WS year after next; absolutely. Amaro had is def. gambling 2011 nd 2012 are locked in (which of course we won't know yet)cause he just sacrificed 2010. Halladay, Rollins, Ibanez, Utley and Polanco all will be another year older. Like I said, next year was the year. Tragic.
    — Clem
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:45 PM, 12/17/2009
    How do we know what Lee was asking for? Bottom line was that Ruben was clever in not asking Lee directly what he wanted, because then he may have had to meet it. Ruben played dumb, acted like Lee wanted the moon, without ever really checking what he wanted. The Phillies will rue the day that they let Lee walk for bottom of the barrel players from Seattle. I also think it is a crappy way to treat Lee as a person. He came here, did everything we asked, and then was tossed aside like yesterday's newspaper.
    — Bobphxville
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:49 PM, 12/17/2009
    All he had to do was have his agent convey a reasonable offer to the Phillies and he might still be here. He didn't and let the rumors that said he wanted a CC type of deal define what the Phillies might expect. I would have loved to have Cliff stay but the fact he didn't is more his fault than the Phillies.
    — Doubtful
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:51 PM, 12/17/2009
    If Cliff REALLY wants to be here let's see what he does when he's a free agent after this year.
    — Doubtful
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:59 PM, 12/17/2009
    Thanks Murph. I'm sooooo glad the Phillies will be soooo much a better team as a result of dealing Lee. I can only imagine how much better they would be if they dealt Utley, Howard, Rollins, and Hamels. Might want to start working on the Phillies spin for how much better that will make them. Used to be the media was the third estate, not the P.R. department.
    — jrquixote
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:03 PM, 12/17/2009
    P Even, we would have had to offer Lee arbitration at the end of this coming season and have him decline in order to get those 2 draft picks. If we offered arbitration I'm sure he'd accept it cause he sounded like he wanted to stay here. However, he'd cost us $20 million for 2011. Or a multi-year deal would be at $20 mil/yr. I'd rather get something for him now (though I thought we could do better than the three prospects we got ... not saying I know anything about them but I trust the "experts") and have that money to pay Howard and Werth down the line.
    — philly psu 24
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:04 PM, 12/17/2009
    The same people that are crying about the Phillies not keeping Lee would be the same ones crying in a few years when it's time to replenish some roles with home grown talent and there isn't any there. You can't have it both ways. How did we win the series in 08?? Anyone remember? Farm boys:Rollins, Utley, Howard, Utley, Hamels. Rubes has done a phenomenal job so far: Ibanez, Trading for Lee, Polanco, Schneider as a solid backup, and now Halladay. Cut him some slack and stop complaining. The Phillies are considered one of the elite teams now and Rubes is trying to keep them there instead of selling out for one year. Enjoy the ride the Phils are on and stop trying to play fantasy baseball!
    — reggiedunlop
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:12 PM, 12/17/2009
    Loyalty cuts both ways. Roy Halladay, who'd never been a Phillie, showed more loyalty to Philadelphia than Cliff Lee did by accepting a below-market, half-length contract to play here. Unless bobphxville was a fly on the wall in Indianapolis, all his information cuts against what's out there: the Phillies had Lee's agent meet them at the winter meetings, it's been reported without contradiction that Lee was seeking a Sabathia-like contract (that's where HIS loyalty went), and Lee has not immediately signed on with Seattle, even though it's a second chance to show loyalty to a franchise that wanted him instead of to his free agent status in 2010. WE gave Cliff Lee everything a player could want -- success, unqualified fan support, and as good a chance for future success as any team outside of the Bronx. He and his agent were free to speak up at any moment and make it clear they had some loyalty to Philadelphia. They chose not to.
    — PhilaLogic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:16 PM, 12/17/2009
    I think that french canadian pitcher was one key. He has closer stuff but needs to get a closer head on him. He might be ready by the time lidges contract is up...
    — bluejfk
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:17 PM, 12/17/2009
    Halladay took a discount to play for us for 4 years! He wanted to come here. If Lee wanted that he would have told his agent to get 'er done. HALLADY'S the type of player I want here. Lee is great but wants CC Sabathia money. We got the best player at the best price.......
    — bmcw


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About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

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