Cliff Lee returns to Philly
Cliff Lee, the left-handed, Cy-Young winner who helped the Phils reach the World Series in 2009 will return for the 2011 season.
A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Cliff Lee has reached preliminary agreement on a contract with Philadelphia. The five-year, $100 million deal is subject to the 32-year-old passing a physical.
The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers had been courting Lee, but were told last night they were out of the running.
Lee turned down longer and more lucrative offers to return to the team he helped reach the 2009 World Series after a midseason trade from Cleveland.
The return of Lee to Philadelphia gives the Phillies an impressive starting rotation, on paper. Lee joins 21-game winner Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.
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