Lee on trade: 'At first, I didn't believe it'
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Lee on trade: 'At first, I didn't believe it'
Paul Hagen
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
Comments (55)
Phillies in the playoffs. Halladay - win. Hamels - who knows. Blanton - who knows. Happ - who knows. Halladay - win. Hamels - oops, times up. I thought the Phillies would be better off for years to come. Pat Gillick - Seattle deals, Toronto deals, Ranger deals, oops times up. I thought the Phillies would be better off for years. Maybe I'd better watch Halladay pitch. That way the Phils will be better off for years. Santa's coming, children.— jrquixote- Its really funny how most of the fans in the Philly area can't think for themselves. Whatever dribble comes out of the local sports talk radio or TV is taken as golden and not a second thought to it. In reality we gave up more minor league talent for Halladay than originally planned plus we lost Cliff Lee who pitched better than any pitcher in the World Series in recent memory. Precious Cole Hamels is a bust but because he is somebodys favorite he stays. If Cole is so good how come he wasn't offered to Seattle? You may have noticed the mouth pieces for the Phillies front office were quick to cover the bases when I questioned just how much the Phils could afford to shell out based on salaries that they don't pay any more. Boy we got right down to the nitty gritty with the numbers. The truth of the matter is Cliff didnt get along with Dubee and neither does Moyer or Blanton. You can figure on Blanton being history which I called while the season was still in full swing. Joe didn't make a secret of his dislike for Dubee's premature hooks either by destroying the end of the dugout after one. I'll say it one more time:: HOW COME SO MANY PITCHERS AND CATCHERS HAVE GONE THROUGH PHILLY SINCE DUBEE CAME HERE? Some day in the future we will learn the truth and you will find out about the down side of Rich.— Wally 24
- look. none of us are ever going to know the truth and what was offered to cliff lee or if there was even an offer. none of us will ever know if the decision was based on money or replenishing our farm talent or both. so i'm going to give our management who took us from losers to the elite platform and took us to the fall classic 2 times in a row the benefit of the doubt that they are doing the best for the club. they got us roy halladay. the best way i can describe to some of these nitwits is this: we traded a donovan mcnabb for peyton manning. so quit crying and relish in having a stud pitcher that is going to mow down the nationals, marlins and mets. 20 wins is not out of question for this guy. 100+ wins and it all hinges on our boy hamels.— jayfril
- Sounds to me like Rubie was less than forthcoming with Lee. Why should and 'ace' have to be surprised by a deal that ships him out, without his having known about it before the trigger was pulled ? Did Rubie skip the ethics course at Stanford ?— mick314
- I've been a Phillies fan for many years. And whenever the Philles say it's not about the money...It's about the money.— Baseball George
- The prospects we received for Lee are not bad, considering we practically stole Lee from the Indians last year and the other GMs obviously knew that and Seattle knew that too. So I think we got a fair deal... All i know is we won a WS without Lee or Harry Halladay. Lee may still sign next year, you really "never know whats going to happen", - Cliff Lee.— Prego614
- Thanks for an exciting run Cliff, and best wishes down the road. We'll miss you. And time to move on folks....
- I'm as disappointed and disgusted as everyone else...it's the loyalty felt for what Cliff Lee gave us. RAJr just must have felt the counter-offer from Lee and his agent were just so out of the ballpark that nothing to Phils satisfaction could have been worked out. RAJr had already discussed the possibility w/ M's GM in Indie so he knew he had an alternative move available. And yes i'm also unhappy w/ the several things read/heard from RAJr and DM over the last couple days. Am I more disappointed with the loss of Lee, or the lack of clarity from Phils brass?...likely it's some of both. But now it is what it is. Overall the team HAS gotten BETTER : P Feliz in the lineup has been replaced by Polanco (better), upgrades for Utility and PH-er, I don't know about Schnieder at C over Bako. Lineup will score more runs. The Aumont kid coming from Seattle is supposed to be comparable to Drabeck so could help out in the pen this year. And RAJr still isn't done yet. Yes having both Halladay and Lee in the WS rotation would have been lights-out. But really, Blanton pitched good enough to win game 4 -- mental lapses on the bench (Charlie and coaches) and on the field in the top of 9th lost that game, not Blanton. Pedro pitched good enough to win game 2...Phils lineup jsut didn't score enough runs. Again, the upgrades to lineup and bench/utility will give more runs in '10. We're going to be debating this till the last out of the last Phils game of 2010...But...It is what it is folks.
- I don't get it. We just got arguably the best pitcher in baseball--the same guy everyone here was crying about not getting in July. The same guy who EVERYONE wanted over Cliff Lee. And now the reverse? Did Halladay not finish 17-10 with an ERA under 2.80? In the AL East? And people are COMPLAINING about getting this guy?? 10 years ago, he wouldn't have entered our minds because the Phils were never in a position to get him. Now they are, we get him, and people STILL aren't happy? Yes, it would've been nice to keep both, but this team is not the Yankees in terms of payroll. Lee probably would've wanted 5 or 6 years at close to $25 million a year. We got Halladay for 4 years and less than $20 million a year. For a better pitcher. Do the math. I love Lee and thought he was awesome for the Phils, but I don't get all the bashing. The payroll will be $140 million. That's not being cheap. Halladay's only a year older and a better pitcher. Period. And we got to the World Series with Lee, so why couldn't we get there and win it with Halladay? People who hate this trade need to step back and look at what we got. Possibly the best pitcher in baseball, plus a few AA-ready prospects to add back to the minor league system. Amaro's a smart guy, and he's made the right moves so far. I'm sure when Halladay wins 20, wins the Cy Young, and gets the Phils back to the Series, all of these idiots will have long forgotten Cliff Lee and will be wearing Halladay jerseys.— monty142
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