MLB: Yankees Link Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee is now free agent and one step from joining New York Yankees

The Yankees look decided to bring Cliff Lee to New York after the club linked left-hander’s agent this Sunday. Lee’s contract with Rangers expired after Texas eliminated the Yanks in the American League Championship Series. The 32-year-old player, whose former team just played the World Series final against San Francisco Giants one week ago, but which they lost, compiled a 12-9 record and 3.18 ERA for both Seattle Mariners and Texas in 2010. Thus, Lee is expected to join New York after he beat the Yanks last year when he wore Philadelphia Phillies jersey.

New York general manager Brian Cashman repeated often that pitching is the key ‘to the kingdom’. However, neither of the two Lee’s agent Darek Braunecker and Yanks general manager offered details regarding the negotiations phase. Meanwhile, Derek Jeter would be considered free agent for the first time in his 16-year major career. The only one to get extension in New York was manager Joe Girardi. He was offered a new three-year deal. Pitching coach Dave Eiland was fired though. On the other hand, the who starting rotation didn’t lead anywhere to make Cashman declare that some things needed to be changed. “Our starting rotation fell apart, got hurt, underperformed, that kind of stuff. I think that’s more indicative of our record than anything else. Obviously what we started the season with in the rotation and what we finished with were radically different,” the general manager added after New York won only 12 games in September.

As for one of the best players the Yanks had, the 36-year-old Jeter wasn’t offered yet a new deal. Jeter, who just had one of his worst seasons in career, is expected to return to the Bronx though. Andy Pettitte is in the same situation. His state isn’t decided yet. Back to Lee, the left-hander is able to refresh the pitching in New York. Former Rangers player has a 7-0 record in the playoffs and also a 1.26 ERA. Furthermore, they say that Los Angeles Angels, as well are interested in Lee, but nothing clear came out at the moment. Lee’s trade has been deadlined in August, but the Yanks chose in the end to add pitcher Ivan Nova and Eduardo Nunez. Finally, Jayson Werth and Carl Crawford, both hunted by Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels as well, must be ready for a trip in New York. The two might be also in the cards for signing the Yanks, but only if negotiations on Lee fail.11