Your also not taking into consideration the impact of the Phillies fans in the Philadelphia area. When Lee was traded the Phillies had an max on the amount of money they could spend and still make money and they were at that threshold. They knew they could only pay 1 guy that type of money n bc Lee wasnt guranteed to come back they decide to trade for Halladay. But then the season started and Phillies merchandise sales went through the roof . Then they started to sell out games and once it got on a roll it didnt stop to the tune of 100+ straight sell outs. With public interest rising so did corporate interest. Which also increased the money they made from advertising.

Subsequently because this drastic rise in revenue occured so did the alloted amount of money they could spend on players. They had no way to predict that all this would happen at the time when they traded Cliff Lee. But they do now which makes it possible for them to give him the money he deserves.

But maybe your right they quite possibly could have changed the way they decided to do bussiness. They have always been accused of being cheap and never had to much success. Maybe they finally realised after the way the fans have responded to the team the last few years if they spend the money and make there team better it will also result in making there bottom line better.

I think for once everyone should give Phillys fans credit where credits do. If it wasnt for them supporting there like they have they would have never been able to pull off a signing like this.

Anway, it did turn out interesting with Lee not accepting the most money, or wanting to pitch at home.

Keep up the good work. Love the column, going back to your blog days.

Think about it: the only way the “mystery team” thing exists is because an agent (a) told him there was one; and (b) wouldn’t tell him who it was. If Heyman doesn’t ask, he’s not doing the basic job as a reporter. If the agent doesn’t tell, Heyman has a decision to make: deal with the information critically given the extreme lack of detail provided, or merely parrot it. He chooses the latter, invariably. In doing so he is either an unwitting or an active accomplice of PR. That is not a reporter’s job.

Imagine this

Cliff Lee: ” I loved Philly so much, I want to go there for a 3 year 60 million dollar contract, Screw the Yankees, screw the Rangers, screw all the extra money.”

Can’t can you? Because that’s what it would take. Give or take a million or so, maybe a 4th year, but it isn’t sweet enough I don’t think. I’d say it’s more of a “I’m sorry for what we did gesture” You know, help the guy out some, let him know he is wanted, and you never really wanted to let him go in the first place. Sure, it could be them. But I doubt they really think it could happen.