Cliff Lee Negotiations Heat Up, Rangers Make 'Substantial' Offer

by FanHouse Newswire

Filed under: Rangers, MLB Free Agency

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg traveled to Arkansas on Thursday and presented Cliff Lee with an offer in an attempt to persuade the prized pitcher to remain with the team he helped reach the World Series.

Greenberg, Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine and co-chairman Ray Davis, a pipeline billionaire, met with Lee, the pitcher's wife and agent Darek Braunecker at the agent's office.

"We made an offer with substantial additional commitments in years and dollars," Greenberg said. "It was a very constructive conversation."

Before Thursday, the Rangers had asked Lee to tell them what it would take to for him to stay in Texas, which acquired from Seattle in July.

The New York Yankees added a year to their offer earlier in the day, proposing a seven-year contract for the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner. On Wednesday, the Yankees had offered a six-year deal worth $137.5 million to $140 million.

 

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