Lee on trade: 'At first, I didn't believe it'
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
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
Although I am happy to one of the teams who spend money now, we should have had Lee for at least one more year. Seize the moment and run Lee, Halliday and Hamels out there. I would have liked our chances and we have the revenue.— hawk18- As I posted elsewhere, this trade is a washout. Phils have the same shot of winning every fifth day with Halladay as they did with Lee. Hardly a game changer. My point about their payouts to Lidge, Moyer, Blanton, Eaton, et al is the Phillies lack of discretion in how they spend their money. The money shelled out to Moyer and Blanton would have been better spent on a pitcher like Lee. Had they retained Lee and added Halladay, it would have been a major game changer.— Manor2009
- Should have traded Cole! Everytime he pitched, he got rocked and complained that he couldn't wait for the season to be over. Everytime Cliff pitched, he ran out to the mound and gave it his all. Cole thought he was the chosen one then he got a complex that Cliff came and he wasn't the "Ace" anymore. Cliff and Roy would have worked great as a team!— John 82
- Until you have a full no-trade clause, you’re at their mercy.— Gnip Gnop
- love halladay, but why not just extend lee and keep the prospects? i mean 4x20mill for halladay couldn't be that much cheaper than what lee wanted. strange.— snakeplissken
- They should have signed Halladay and Lee, they are making plenty of money and don't tell me they aren't. This is the difference between a team that is in it to make money and a team that wants to win. Trading Lee makes me sick to my stomach.— L1Monte
Good luck to Cliff Lee and his family.A True Warrior. If it were up to us fans Cliff would have retired a Phillie. Rubes antenna isnt picking up all the signals if you know what I mean.— argonne- Lee said himself he wanted to stay here and was willing to negotiate, sounds like his agent needs to be fired. Besides that who cares about replenishing the farm system when you can have the most dominating 1-2 pitching tandem for a run at a potentially historically dominating season. Lee was a great guy as well and it's a shame to see him go. It's not like the Phillies are just getting incredibly great young talent in return, the best part of the deal is Aumont who is just going to be a lefty specialist out of the bullpen at best.— BleedingMe
- i think something that no one has really mentioned is the fact that halladay is a lot better than lee. i loved lee's time here, and i wish we could have both of them, but i understand that that wasn't really feasible. but if you could have lee or halladay for the next four years for the same amount of money, i'd pick halladay any day. he's put up better numbers than lee in the toughest division to pitch in. he faced the yankees and red sox 11 games last year and still was elite. i dunno.. lee was great for us, but i have a feeling that halladay is going to be even better— philsphan10
- being from toronto area better off with roy halladay , unlike cliff lee , roy can go on 2 days 3 days rest ,to bad was not there for 2009 season, im from toronto but and this guy is best money can buy better than sabathia and any pitcher out there watch see philly fans, hope he contributes ,u have awsome team good luck— nascarfan212
- Hope Seattle doesn't ask him to pitch on three days rest, especially in the World Series, then they'll see his true colors!— BentLogic
- bentlogic your right thats difference between lee and roy, roy is work horse most complete games shoutouts wins since 2002,this guy pitch 2 days rest ,seen him pitch in toronto he is true class team player never complains, he coems from toughest division in baseball ,— nascarfan212
It's business, not fantasy. Too bad for fans.— road515- alot of second guessing won't bring him back, and he sure took it like a pro, but he's a mariner now and i'm sure he will do just fine. i would have liked to have the dream rotation halladay,lee and hamels ,but it wasn't meant to be. like lee said it's a buisness first and a sport second, and life goes on,who knows in philly it seems the door is always left open for players to return, for better or worse.— 4u2digest
- Lee and his agent didn't have a chance to negotiate. When the Phillies start leaking undocumented information, look out, the player they talk about becomes chopped liver to make themselves look good. The adage sales exuctives teach is " Show them the steak, but sell them the sizzle." Phillies fans have just been sizzled !— phineas
