Comments on: UPDATE: The Nats are out of the Cliff Lee Derby http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:26:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Ari Collins http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95862 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:58:00 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95862 Now we hear they’re back in it, via mlb.com’s Bill Ladson. Though who knows if they’re doing seven years.

]]> By: gt929 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95827 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:09:47 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95827 I heard the Rangers might be interested in Cliff Lee too. But, nah, they are broke and won’t reach the playoffs for another 50 years.

]]> By: Old Gator http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95814 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:58:46 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95814 They will definitely lead the league in Zimmermans, anyway.

]]> By: yankees1996 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95809 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:45:43 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95809 It would appear if they actually offer this deal that the Nationals are subscibing to the ploy of “Go big or Go home” when it comes to their free agent pursuits. I say good for them, spend on boys!

]]> By: Old Gator http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95807 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:43:12 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95807 I would rather see Washington offer Julian Assange a seven year deal as part of a plea bargain.

]]> By: Mark Armour http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95794 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:47:29 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95794 The Nationals owners has a gazillion dollars and they play in one of the biggest markets in the country. If he wants to have a $140 million payroll it would be easy to pull off.

]]> By: rick1922 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95793 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:43:47 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95793 Any body gies this guy more then 5years is nuts.Bad back and 32 years old.THE YANKEES won;t go7 years nobody should this is getting out of hand.

]]> By: fndan9 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95791 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:36:02 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95791 Ironic how a team based in Wash DC seems to be planning to spend WAY more money than they have.

]]> By: sdelmonte http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95790 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:32:31 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95790 So what will Lee want? Tons of money and job security, the chance to eat NL hitters alive, and the possibility of being on a rising club; or slightly less cash and security and a much greater certainty of seeing the playoffs? Because if I’m Cashman, my pitch is, “you’ll still be super-rich, you’ll still get five years, and you’ll be with the Yankees.”

]]> By: Reflex http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95787 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:27:13 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95787 BTW, I’d also add that their 2B prospect looks pretty good, and thier SS, Ian Desmond, is going to be a minor star in my opinion(the errors were directly a result of his very very good range). That would put them above average in the three positions that are most difficult to be above average in(C, 2B, SS) in addition to having a good CF and a star 3B. Like I said, sign someone like Fielder for 1B or Crawford for LF and that lineup starts to look very good.

]]> By: Reflex http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95785 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:22:03 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95785 I don’t know about that. Say they give Lee the deal he wants, knowing it’ll be bad by the end. As pointed out above, Lee/Strasburg/Zimmermann is not a bad top of the rotation. Furthermore, Zimmerman/Werth/Harper is not a bad middle of the lineup assuming Harper pans out in the next couple years. Grab one more big bopper in the next couple seasons, say Prince Fielder next season, or someone like Crawford this season, and the team starts to look competitive by next season. Add a couple of upside vets or Aubrey Huff types and I can see them competing sooner rather than later.

Obviously this is all speculation, and were I a Nats fan probably a fan fantasy. But they DO have the money to do this. The owner is a billionaire and the team plays in one of the better media markets. If they want to go Marlins in 1998 on the league they can afford to. And I don’t know that it would be a bad thing either, that division has been Phils/Braves/Mets for far too long IMO…

]]> By: Ari Collins http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95784 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:20:23 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95784 I’m pretty sure 7 years at $25M per would do it, no need to go to $30M. If he’s getting a $175M deal, that should (I think) be enough to get him to sign. Even in Washington.

]]> By: uyf1950 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95783 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:15:56 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95783 I say the Nationals should go for it. Unless they blow Lee and his agent away with “substantially” more money and years Lee’s not going to the Nationals. Seven years at $30M per might do it. That is unless Lee is interested in winning as well. The Nationals are at least 4 years away from even being competitive.

]]> By: Kevin S. http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95777 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:08:21 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95777 Apparently, the Nats are in the business of giving seven-year deals to early-thirties players. If their offer is as long as the one for Werth, he’ll be a Nat. And while there might not be much of a team around them, the idea of Lee/Strasburg/Zimmermann headlining a rotation is sexy, dammit.

]]> By: Jonny 5 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/07/the-buzz-the-nats-are-going-to-throw-a-huge-number-at-cliff-lee/comment-page-1/#comment-95776 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:07:46 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=29861#comment-95776 This is pretty cool. I really hope Washington lands him. Making Phillies – Nats games 20 times more interesting.

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