Merlot,
Lee's last contract was signed in August of 2006. His value has risen substantially. Look at the contracts given to Sabathia, Lackey, Beckett and Burnett. Lee is likely to get from $23-$25 M; while I suspect he'll give the Rangers a $2 M or so "hometown discount," what is likely to make the difference is the length of the contract. Given Lee's age, 32, I doubt Cashdollar will go more than 4 years; Texas will certainly match that.
Hello Rumples,
It wouldn't surprise me or anyone at all if the numbers went that high. But, I was going by the numbers here:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/Salaries/L/Cliff-Lee.shtml
2006-2009 Signed 4-year, $15,000,000 contract with the Cleveland Indians on Aug 9,2006. Club option for 2010 ($8m)
2010-2010 Signed 1-year, $8,000,000 contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Nov 6,2009. Option exercised by Philles before trade to Mariners
ary (US $) Rank Lg Avg (US $) Centile
2002 *200,000 1,654,088 80
2003 300,900 1,773,364 61
2004 303,200 1,716,303 63
2005 345,000 1,825,756 52
2006 406,200 1,937,004 46
2007 *3,000,000 2,923,340 35
2008 4,000,000 NA 29
2009 6,000,000 NA 20
2010 9,000,000 98 0 13
Career: $23,555,300 estimate
Even at 32 years old I'd bet the Yankees would go 5 years to get him.
In other news ESPN reported the Yankees have labeled Jeter and Rivera "legacy players" indicating contract offers will match their status. Jeter is 37 and Rivera will be 41 on November 29. Great players in their day, the Yankees are now trapping themselves into financing a mega-bucks sure decline for both players. A 4-year offer for Jeter would very likely showcase his fall to number the 7-9 hitting slots, if not to DH, and as legendary as Rivera is it's almost definite that he would face a similar degrading scenario. Such contracts honor achievements, but is this what is best for the team?
Cheers,
Merlot