Cliff Lee yawned and chewed gum while his glove, a basket hanging near his chest, snagged the Johnny Damon popup. It was Game 1 of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium, and Lee was in the sixth inning of a masterpiece sublime enough to include that iconic moment. In the outfield and dugout, his teammates laughed and marveled at Lee's nonchalance.

That catch represented the peak of an otherworldly postseason for the lefty, and defined Lee for the Philadelphia public as a Phillie forever. It had the same effect on the pitcher, whose hurt was raw when the Phils traded him to Seattle in December to make room in the payroll for Roy Halladay. Twelve months later, clearly still pulled by the memory of a heightened experience, Lee did what professional athletes almost never do: He prioritized desire over dollars.

Of course, the approximately $100 million that the Phillies will pay Lee over the next five years is more than almost anyone would make in five lifetimes, but that is almost irrelevant in baseball. Athletes are among the most competitive people in this competitive country, and in their business, contracts indicate status and success nearly as much as titles do. Lee could have become one of the highest-paid athletes in the world had he signed with the Yankees. No matter how much he will make, it could not have been easy to turn down so much more.

Instead of doing that, he will try to recreate his favorite memory. It is a nice narrative, even a noble impulse, but it is fraught with risk and potential disappointment. The Phillies are already altered from the team Lee joined in July 2009, when he was traded from Cleveland.

The Phils' lineup is reduced, due to age and attrition. Jayson Werth, Lee's good friend and the team's only righthanded power hitter, is gone, having decided to accept a Publishers Clearing House check for $126 million from the Washington Nationals. Infielders Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are aging, and could not make it through last season without suffering serious and nagging injuries. This month, centerfielder Shane Victorino turned 30, the last Phils starter to cross the precarious boundary. Decline awaits in a few years, if not sooner.

Unlike the Yankees, the Phils will not be able to buy their way out of a rebuilding phase. Had Lee signed with New York, he would have received the implicit promise of $200 million payrolls every season, enough to purchase playoff contention despite an abundance of aging regulars.

Derek Jeter can't play shortstop in a year or two? Move him somewhere else, and sign an All-Star replacement. CC's arm is dead after all those innings? Well, when is King Felix a free agent?

The Yankees would have given Lee not just more money, but the security of knowing he would not ever be stuck for long on an irrelevant team. The Phillies might be great next year, and a rotation beginning with Halladay, Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt sounds like one of the best ever. But what if it doesn't immediately click, due to injuries or inconsistency or other human frailty (remember, that group without Lee was supposed to win a World Series this year)?

This Phils team has a one-year window before it sees sweeping change. Oswalt, Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson have potentially expiring deals, and could follow Werth out of town in 11 months. Halladay, Hamels and Victorino might follow in the ensuing years. And Cliff Lee might be stuck chasing the ghosts of an elusive memory, and wishing he had just taken the money.

Cliff Lee yawned and chewed gum while his glove, a basket hanging near his chest, snagged the Johnny Damon popup. It was Game 1 of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium, and Lee was in the sixth inning of a masterpiece sublime enough to include that iconic moment. In the outfield and dugout, his teammates laughed and marveled at Lee's nonchalance.

That catch represented the peak of an otherworldly postseason for the lefty, and defined Lee for the Philadelphia public as a Phillie forever. It had the same effect on the pitcher, whose hurt was raw when the Phils traded him to Seattle in December to make room in the payroll for Roy Halladay. Twelve months later, clearly still pulled by the memory of a heightened experience, Lee did what professional athletes almost never do: He prioritized desire over dollars.

Of course, the approximately $100 million that the Phillies will pay Lee over the next five years is more than almost anyone would make in five lifetimes, but that is almost irrelevant in baseball. Athletes are among the most competitive people in this competitive country, and in their business, contracts indicate status and success nearly as much as titles do. Lee could have become one of the highest-paid athletes in the world had he signed with the Yankees. No matter how much he will make, it could not have been easy to turn down so much more.

Instead of doing that, he will try to recreate his favorite memory. It is a nice narrative, even a noble impulse, but it is fraught with risk and potential disappointment. The Phillies are already altered from the team Lee joined in July 2009, when he was traded from Cleveland.

The Phils' lineup is reduced, due to age and attrition. Jayson Werth, Lee's good friend and the team's only righthanded power hitter, is gone, having decided to accept a Publishers Clearing House check for $126 million from the Washington Nationals. Infielders Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are aging, and could not make it through last season without suffering serious and nagging injuries. This month, centerfielder Shane Victorino turned 30, the last Phils starter to cross the precarious boundary. Decline awaits in a few years, if not sooner.

Unlike the Yankees, the Phils will not be able to buy their way out of a rebuilding phase. Had Lee signed with New York, he would have received the implicit promise of $200 million payrolls every season, enough to purchase playoff contention despite an abundance of aging regulars.

Derek Jeter can't play shortstop in a year or two? Move him somewhere else, and sign an All-Star replacement. CC's arm is dead after all those innings? Well, when is King Felix a free agent?

The Yankees would have given Lee not just more money, but the security of knowing he would not ever be stuck for long on an irrelevant team. The Phillies might be great next year, and a rotation beginning with Halladay, Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt sounds like one of the best ever. But what if it doesn't immediately click, due to injuries or inconsistency or other human frailty (remember, that group without Lee was supposed to win a World Series this year)?

This Phils team has a one-year window before it sees sweeping change. Oswalt, Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson have potentially expiring deals, and could follow Werth out of town in 11 months. Halladay, Hamels and Victorino might follow in the ensuing years. And Cliff Lee might be stuck chasing the ghosts of an elusive memory, and wishing he had just taken the money.

In Cliff Lee's short but highly productive postseason career, he sure has fallen in love with Game 1 of a series.

Here are his numbers in Game 1 (three starts):

3-0, 0.72 ERA with 25 strikeouts and no walks. He's given up just 6.1 hits per nine innings pitched in those games.

"I like competing," Lee said after Wednesday's game, in which he gave up one run in seven innings with no walks and 10 strikeouts. "I like competing, period. I hate to lose. Any time you get a chance to play in a situation like the postseason when you're playing against the best of the best, that's what it's all about. That's what I thrive on. That's what I enjoy."

In Cliff Lee's short but highly productive postseason career, he sure has fallen in love with Game 1 of a series.

Here are his numbers in Game 1 (three starts):

3-0, 0.72 ERA with 25 strikeouts and no walks. He's given up just 6.1 hits per nine innings pitched in those games.

"I like competing," Lee said after Wednesday's game, in which he gave up one run in seven innings with no walks and 10 strikeouts. "I like competing, period. I hate to lose. Any time you get a chance to play in a situation like the postseason when you're playing against the best of the best, that's what it's all about. That's what I thrive on. That's what I enjoy."

Is it "all but certain" that Cliff Lee is about to join the New York Yankees? Every other contending team in the American League must hope not. Joel Sherman this morning:

The Yanks were not assured of obtaining Lee since other clubs such as the Mets, Twins and Rangers were in talks.

But the Yanks were definitely making the strongest move last night, coming from seeming disinterest into the clear front-runner -- and last night it seemed they were all but certain to obtain the 31-year-old lefty.

--snip--

Yankee management looked at its rotation and had some pause. CC Sabathia again was an ace and Andy Pettitte is pitching as well now as ever. But A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez are not fully trustworthy, especially for the playoffs, and Phil Hughes has an innings limit of about 175, and might not be available to start.

Cashman might now be in position to either put Hughes in the bullpen to bolster that shaky area or trade a starter, possibly Vazquez, for a few prospects. It was possible that injured Double-A second baseman David Adams also was part of the deal to Seattle since he is a player the Mariners like a great deal.

The Yanks also were obviously worried about being in a highly competitive division with the Red Sox and Rays, and Lee is the kind of player who can separate them. Having Sabathia and Lee -- one-time Indians teammates -- as a 1-2 punch atop the rotation turn the Yanks into even stronger favorites to repeat as champions.
Coals to Newcastle, right? The Yankees have the best record in the majors and their top three starters are 32-7.

But as Sherman points out, Hughes is eventually going to run into a management-prescribed innings limit, and both Burnett and Vazquez have ERAs approaching 5.

Granted, both could start for any other team in the majors. But the Yankees are going to make an immense profit this season -- and for as many seasons in the future as you care to count. Should they not apply their financial advantage when a moment like this arrives? Ownership seems to take some pride in not simply grabbing all the best free agents every winter, which is why they've got eight All-Stars rather than a dozen, and a $210 million payroll rather than $250 million (which they could afford, with plenty left over). But Vazquez actually makes more money than Lee this season; if the Yankees get Lee and trade Vazquez -- even if they have to send some money along in the deal -- they can claim that they've actually lowered their payroll.

Anyway, that's the Yankees. They've got little reason to not do this deal.

What of the Mariners, though? There are still questions about Montero's future as a catcher in the majors. Sure, maybe he'll hit enough to play first base and the Mariners could use a first baseman. But shouldn't they be a little concerned about Montero's struggles in Triple-A this season?

No, probably not. He's 20. At 19, he was devastating in both the Florida State League and the Double-A Eastern League. Maybe the scouts have some concerns, but numbers-wise there's nothing wrong with a 20-year-old doing what he's doing this year.

Which isn't to say the Yankees have this thing locked up. As Buster Olney reports this morning, "it's possible another team could step in and make a more aggressive bid."

I think this deal might hinge upon the secondary prospect. The Yankees can offer Montero. The Twins can offer a catcher, Wilson Ramos. Other clubs might not have similarly talented catchers they're willing to trade, but they do have similarly talented players. The price is presumably one Grade A prospect, and at least one lesser prospect. So then it comes down to how much lesser.

Is it "all but certain" that Cliff Lee is about to join the New York Yankees? Every other contending team in the American League must hope not. Joel Sherman this morning:

The Yanks were not assured of obtaining Lee since other clubs such as the Mets, Twins and Rangers were in talks.

But the Yanks were definitely making the strongest move last night, coming from seeming disinterest into the clear front-runner -- and last night it seemed they were all but certain to obtain the 31-year-old lefty.

--snip--

Yankee management looked at its rotation and had some pause. CC Sabathia again was an ace and Andy Pettitte is pitching as well now as ever. But A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez are not fully trustworthy, especially for the playoffs, and Phil Hughes has an innings limit of about 175, and might not be available to start.

Cashman might now be in position to either put Hughes in the bullpen to bolster that shaky area or trade a starter, possibly Vazquez, for a few prospects. It was possible that injured Double-A second baseman David Adams also was part of the deal to Seattle since he is a player the Mariners like a great deal.

The Yanks also were obviously worried about being in a highly competitive division with the Red Sox and Rays, and Lee is the kind of player who can separate them. Having Sabathia and Lee -- one-time Indians teammates -- as a 1-2 punch atop the rotation turn the Yanks into even stronger favorites to repeat as champions.
Coals to Newcastle, right? The Yankees have the best record in the majors and their top three starters are 32-7.

But as Sherman points out, Hughes is eventually going to run into a management-prescribed innings limit, and both Burnett and Vazquez have ERAs approaching 5.

Granted, both could start for any other team in the majors. But the Yankees are going to make an immense profit this season -- and for as many seasons in the future as you care to count. Should they not apply their financial advantage when a moment like this arrives? Ownership seems to take some pride in not simply grabbing all the best free agents every winter, which is why they've got eight All-Stars rather than a dozen, and a $210 million payroll rather than $250 million (which they could afford, with plenty left over). But Vazquez actually makes more money than Lee this season; if the Yankees get Lee and trade Vazquez -- even if they have to send some money along in the deal -- they can claim that they've actually lowered their payroll.

Anyway, that's the Yankees. They've got little reason to not do this deal.

What of the Mariners, though? There are still questions about Montero's future as a catcher in the majors. Sure, maybe he'll hit enough to play first base and the Mariners could use a first baseman. But shouldn't they be a little concerned about Montero's struggles in Triple-A this season?

No, probably not. He's 20. At 19, he was devastating in both the Florida State League and the Double-A Eastern League. Maybe the scouts have some concerns, but numbers-wise there's nothing wrong with a 20-year-old doing what he's doing this year.

Which isn't to say the Yankees have this thing locked up. As Buster Olney reports this morning, "it's possible another team could step in and make a more aggressive bid."

I think this deal might hinge upon the secondary prospect. The Yankees can offer Montero. The Twins can offer a catcher, Wilson Ramos. Other clubs might not have similarly talented catchers they're willing to trade, but they do have similarly talented players. The price is presumably one Grade A prospect, and at least one lesser prospect. So then it comes down to how much lesser.