GOING THE DISTANCE: Cliff Lee’s agent received a formal offer yesterday from the Yankees, and their six-year offer is believed to be longer than what the Rangers are set to offer. (Getty Images)
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Cliff Lee’s agent left the Winter Meetings yesterday with an offer from the Yankees.
Internally, the Yankees are comfortable with a six-year deal north of Johan Santana’s $137.5 million contract but less than $150 million.
A six-year pact in the $144 million range would make Lee the highest-paid pitcher ever on a multi-year contract. His $24 million average would be $1 million more than CC Sabathia averages on his seven-year, $161 million contract.
RED SOX SWIPE CRAWFORD FROM YANKEES, ANGELS
Darek Braunecker, Lee’s agent, departed the Winter Meetings shortly after his latest meetings with the Yankees and Rangers, who are viewed as the main contenders for the lefty. He did not say where he was going. But Braunecker now has an idea of what the true field is for his client and it is the Yankees’ hope that they have distinguished themselves.
“We made an offer,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. “It’s not like he didn’t want to take an offer. He is trying to put himself in the position where he has all the offers out there.”
Late last night, Carl Crawford, who dined with Cashman on Tuesday night, agreed to a seven-year deal worth $142 million with the Red Sox. The Yankees never made an offer to Crawford, but he was viewed as a back-up plan for the Yankees if Lee didn’t land in The Bronx.
Crawford’s deal could embolden Lee’s camp to push the Yankees for a seventh year, but Cashman said it would not change the Bombers’ tactics. Crawford-to-Boston also makes the Angels, reportedly the early favorite to get Crawford, stronger bidders for Lee.
“It’s a great pickup,” Cashman said. “He’s a great player.”
Cashman said his offer to Lee wasn’t the result of Braunecker making an official request of the Yankees. Nor would he comment if there is room for the pact to grow or that it was a take-it-or-leave it proposal.
“He told me he wasn’t close to making a decision,” Cashman said. “He is waiting on more teams to get their stuff together. He said, ‘I will let you know.’ because he knew my intent not to really make an offer still four weeks away from [Lee] making a decision.”
Landing Lee is vital to the Yankees’ hopes next season. And while most of Cashman’s energy is being put into Lee, he found time to take Andy Pettitte’s call yesterday.
“I did talk to Andy. He is still trying to decide what he wants to do,” Cashman said. “He hasn’t put himself in play yet so we will stay in touch with each other. He wants us to get Cliff Lee. He is not retired. He hasn’t made a decision to retire. He may be leaning one way or the other. He is not officially retired. If I had to bet at some point, I think he will play but he could be leaning the other way. He just doesn’t want to hold us up. He wants reassurances he isn’t messing up our plan.”
Cashman said he is on Pettitte’s schedule, even if that means going to Hal Steinbrenner for more money.
“I never have a problem knocking on Hal’s door and asking for more money,” Cashman said. “I know my title is general manager but I consider myself the director or spending for the New York Yankees.”
Pettitte made $11.75 million last year but Cashman’s talk didn’t involve money.
“I am focusing on what’s in play, he knows that,” Cashman said.
As for Lee, it’s hard to identify the mystery teams that have made the much-talked-about seven-year offers to the 32-year-old lefty.
The Rangers, the Yankees’ chief competitor, really don’t want to go higher than five years for the pitcher who got them to the World Series.
Last night they asked Braunecker what it would take for them to sign Lee.
Cashman would like the process to speed up but understands Lee’s pace.
“This some one worth the wait,” Cashman said. “If it takes time, so be it. We certainly hope he picks us.”
george.king@nypost.com