It was reported by one writer that the Yankees offered Lee 6 years $140 million. MLB radio reported this but did not confirm. If this is their best offer can we compete?

would be tough with that, but especially if he's set on holding out for a 7th year, which is what is also being reported

$23.3 per? I would think so. After state taxes, that works out to about a $22 per offer here. I think that's more than doable. We all knew the starting price was $20 per. $2m more is chump change at the end of the day.

The 6th year is the issue. For me, that's only 1 more year than I'd be wanting to offer anyway. If it was 7, I'd probably balk. But 1 year? Even if it tanks that year for the team, that's 6 years down the line, and I'm okay with it.

I don't like the 6th year. We have to offer it because NY did. 7 is out of the question. Greinke is 5 years younger. Keep in mind, 5 years ago Lee had exactly 0 good years. Greinke has one great and several good seasons. If it is going to set us back like AROD's contract, I say we pass. That b eing said, I hope Lee realizes that Texas has a bright future and he can win with us. We can't outbid the Yankees but we offer intangibles that are valuable as well.

Just a rumor. The Yankees haven't made an offer yet. Legit offer info will probably start leaking during the Winter Meetings. I'll try to keep my ears open when I'm there.

Anything more than 6 and/or 120 total gets a firm no from me.

Any offer that results in more than $20 million a year gets a laugh from me. He's not worth it.

For a team with a $90 million player payroll and a committment of $16 million per year over the next 3 years to a declining "face of the franchise" to then obligate another $23 million per year for 6 years on one additional player is financial mismanagement. It ignores the necessity of keeping successful home-grown talent...... the Ranger's long term game plan since JD became GM.

The Rangers could sign Hamilton and Wilson three years beyond the expiration of their arbitration years for less than the cost of reacquiring Cliff Lee. Hamilton + Wilson > Lee.

I agree with texaslifter. Just as Rodriguez's contract handcuffed the team, a huge contract to Lee could do the same. Home grown talent will still be incredibly important to the Rangers winning in the future. Lee leaving would hurt for sure, but it won't be the end of the world for the Rangers.

If you told me that the Rangers would have a $90 mil payroll in perpetuity, I would likely agree. But I think we are likely to see $105 mil payrolls by 2013-14 and under thouse circumstances, $22-23 mil for a legit ace is not unreasonable.

I would much rather offer Lee a 4 year for $102 or $104 million, which averages out to 25.5 million or 26 million a year. I am giving Lee an extra 16 million to Lee over 4 years so that I do not have to offer him a 5 year, 6 year, or even 7 year deal. Because of Lee's age, the length of the contract is more important to me than the average payout per year.
By giving Lee a 25.5 or 26 million per year, his agent and him can say he is the highest paid pitcher in the game, if not the highest paid player in the game. Rangers benefit by not having to give Lee a contract that last 5 or more years, where his production will drop off so dramatically to the point that the Rangers will vastly overpaid for the production that he will produce; Lee's contract is more likely to become an albatross at year 6 and 7.
I truly believe year 5 is point of diminishing return for Lee.

How about offering Lee the same money for one less year? 140 million for 5 years or 28 million a year?

That's freaking retarded, Cliff.