Lee will receive a deal reportedly worth around $100 million over five years with a sixth-year vesting option. His agent, Darek Braunecker, did not return phone calls from The Inquirer. The 32-year-old lefthander went a combined 12-9 with a 3.18 ERA with Seattle and Texas last season and has a career record of 102-61 with a 3.85 ERA. In 10 career postseason starts, he is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA, including a 4-0 record with the Phillies during the 2009 postseason.
Both the Yankees and Rangers had better offers on the table, but Lee apparently fell in love with the Phillies during the team's 2009 run to the World Series and wanted to return. The Yankees, according to ESPN, offered a six-year deal worth $138 million with an option for a seventh season. After the Phillies traded him to the Seattle Mariners last year, there were times when Lee sounded like a jilted lover when he talked about the Phils.
Lee's deal with the Phillies comes exactly 362 days after Amaro traded the lefthander to the Mariners for three prospects on the same day that the team acquired Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays for three other prospects.
The main lament from Phillies fans at the time was that the team did not keep both aces. Amaro said at the time that the Phillies needed to restock its farm system. The general manager was widely criticized for much of last season because the three prospects the Phillies received for Lee - pitchers Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez and outfielder Tyson Gillies - all had disappointing seasons in the minor leagues.
