MLB

Yankees give 7-year offer to Lee

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Yankees have increased their offer to free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee to seven years.

In the aftermath of outfielder Jayson Werth getting seven years from the Nationals and — most especially — outfielder Carl Crawford receiving a seven-year deal from the Red Sox late Wednesday night, the Yankees caved in and did what as late as Wednesday evening they said they would not do, add that seventh year to their offer.

The offer to Lee came hours after the Red Sox jolted the Winter Meetings by outmaneuvering the cautious Angels to land Crawford on a seven-year, $142 million deal. That meant the Red Sox had obtained both first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (in a trade with the Padres) and Crawford at these Meetings and nothing motivates the Yankees quite like the build up of their rival.

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So after insisting for weeks they would not climb above a six year offer for up to $150 million, the Yankees suddenly felt they had no choice. Boston had added two under-30, two-way stars to energize their fan base and electrify their roster. That pushed the Yankees.

But so did something else: They had no Plan B. There was no other starting pitcher in the trade or free agent market anywhere close to Lee’s talent. And without adding a high-end starter, the Yankees were putting their 2011 season in real peril.

Thus, the Yankees did what they so often do: They threw money at their problem. They decided not to worry about $25 million in 2017. They decided not to worry that Lee will pitch until he is 39 years old on a seven-year contract. Instead, they made sure to differentiate themselves totally from the field.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman would not confirm the increased offer, but said the Yankees are awaiting a response.

“We have to wait,” Cashman said. “He’s a premium free agent and worth waiting for. Let the process play out. I have the utmost respect for his decision.”

Rangers GM John Daniels was quiet when asked about the seven year offer.

“I am not talking about negotiations. You can draw your own conclusions,” Daniels said.

Now it is hard to believe the Rangers or any other club will go to the same region — except in this wacky offseason who really knows? Did anyone think Werth would get seven years? Did anyone really think that the Angels would again fall so far short on a free agent they craved as the speedy Crawford instead fled to Boston?

By going to seven years with their offer, the Yankees have gone from favorites to super-favorites. It highlights that Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, played this perfectly. He slowed down the process, let the market rise around Lee and now will benefit by almost certainly getting a multiyear pitching record for Lee. The current record is the seven years at $161 million the Yankees paid for CC Sabathia two offseasons ago.

Braunecker left the Winter Meetings yesterday to return to Arkansas. He is now home with the gift he always wanted for his client: A legitimate, seven-year offer from the Yankees.

Additional reporting by George A. KING III