SEATTLE — The Yankees moved fast to swoop in and nearly obtain Cliff Lee today, then, they feel, the Mariners pulled a fast one and sent the ace lefty to the Rangers.
That left the Yankees without a piece that would turn their rotation from strong to perhaps unbeatable now and in the postseason, and it also left them livid at how Seattle behaved during the process.
Yankees officials went to bed Thursday believing a deal had been finalized with the Mariners for Lee, pending acceptance of the physical reports on Yankees prospects Jesus Montero, David Adams and Zach McAllister.
However, late Friday morning, the Mariners expressed concern about Adams, a Double-A second baseman currently on the disabled list with a high ankle sprain. The Mariners asked the Yankees to substitute Single-A righty Adam Warren. The Yankees agreed. But after more time elapsed, Seattle came back and also asked for touted shortstop prospect Eduardo Nunez.
The Yankees had balked at Seattle’s demands for Montero and Nunez weeks ago, and told the Mariners “No” again. At this point, the Yankees figured Seattle was simply stalling because it had another option, which turned out to be accurate.
The Rangers initially refused to include prized first baseman Justin Smoak, but with the Yankees on the verge of obtaining Lee, Texas blinked.
“This is a player we desired and we threw different things around and yes there was a point this morning through the conversations, this is the player we want, and they said, ‘OK,’ ’’ Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said.
The Mariners accepted a package of Smoak and three other prospects for Lee and reliever Mark Lowe with Seattle agreeing to pay $2.25 million of Lee’s approximately $4 million remaining salary for the cash-strapped Rangers.
“The Yankees do not do business that way,” an angered Yankees official said of the Mariners agreeing to a deal but backing out before it could be finalized. “When we say something is a deal, it is a deal. Yes, this is frustrating and disappointing.”
Lee was scheduled to pitch for the Mariners against the Yankees tonight.
The turnaround completed a whirlwind 24 hours in which the Yankees went from believing they were merely bystanders on Lee to nearly adding him to their first-place team. Yankees officials were called midday Thursday and told they were the frontrunner because they were willing to include Montero, and Seattle was valuing a top-flight hitting prospect over all else.
What the Yankees did not know is that the Mariners valued Smoak over Montero. Seattle officials were hopeful the Yankees being on the brink of this acquisition would get the Rangers to blink, and Texas indeed did that, which elated the Mariners and infuriated the Yankees.
“I don’t think 30 GMs would agree that what the Mariners did was real ethical,” another Yankees official said.
The Yankees still will be the front-runners to sign Lee this offseason when he is a free agent.
“He isn’t staying with Texas, that’s for sure,’’ a source predicted.
Lee was as confused as anyone how the day played out.
“I was thinking it looks like I might be going to New York,’’ said Lee, who spoke to friend and former Indians teammate CC Sabathia on Thursday night. “That’s what they were saying. I think that story (in The Post) triggered other teams to get a little more aggressive.’’