Will it continue

Tough to say. My guess is he will sign with Texas. If it were a few years ago, Lee would be a done deal. With the Yankees getting long in the tooth, Lee might rather stay with a younger core team that are playing well right now and are going under a new philosophy under Nolan Ryan's watch.

However, over the long haul, it's most likely year-in and year out, the Yankees will likely win more consistently because they will do what's necessary to stay a top team.

The hardest thing for the Yankees is not the signing of free agents like Lee, but getting rid of them when you still owe 40 or 50 million and they don't work out or are injured. Untradable and too much money just to release them.

NY.

I think he ends up in NY too.

Stu

You guys don't understand Ryan and Greenburg. They don't like to lose...plus they hold the strong hand now. For similar dollars, which the Rangers will step up to, why would you sign long term with a team with such an old core when you could sign with a young core that already showed they are better? Lee's not leaving the Rangers.

One factor in figuring the money part is that TX has no state income tax while NY has one of the nation's highest! I guess I just grabbing at straws but when you're making 20 million a year it's worth something--not that I would know what that's like.

Never underestimate the Yankees and their willingness to be the first team to go over the $1B salary threshold. Luxury tax, smuxury tax!

Yes, the Yankees will want Cliff Lee even more now, because he is their kryptonite. Also, I think you'll see the Red Sox start to load up on leftys against a lefty hitting lineup of Nw York and Tampa Bay.