NEW YORK — Left-hander Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies reached a preliminary agreement on a $100 million, five-year contract Monday night. The agreement is subject to Lee passing a physical.
The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers received telephone calls Monday night telling them they were out of the running for the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner who turned down longer and more lucrative offers to return to the team he helped reach the 2009 World Series after a midseason trade from the Cleveland Indians.
Philadelphia dealt Lee to the Seattle Mariners as part of a four-team, nine-player swap Dec. 16 last year while simultaneously acquiring Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays. Lee will join Halladay, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels to form what would be considered the top rotation in the major leagues. Lee is 102-61 with a 3.85 ERA in nine major-league seasons.
• The average salary in Major League Baseball finished over $3 million for the first time.
The 912 players in the big leagues before rosters expanded in September averaged $3,014,572, the Major League Baseball Players Association said. The average rose 0.6 percent from last year’s $2,996,106, the smallest increase since a 2.5 percent drop in 2004.
The Yankees had the highest final average at $7,604,937, down from $7,663,351 when they won the World Series in 2009. The Rockies averaged $2,523,824, down from the 2,926,721 average of 2009.
• The Oakland Athletics and slugger Hideki Matsui agreed to a one- year deal worth about $6 million.
NBA players could dissolve union
NEW YORK — NBA players are considering dissolution of their union as another means to combat sweeping changes to their labor agreement.
A vote is underway to authorize decertification of the National Basketball Players Association, according to agents and others involved in the process. At least two teams have voted unanimously to authorize decertification, according to the Sports Business Journal, citing anonymous sources.
More teams will be voting in the coming weeks. If a majority of players agree, it will give union leaders added leverage in collective bargaining talks with the NBA.
• New Jersey Nets forward Damion James is expected to be sidelined up to two months after having surgery to repair a broken right foot.
Footnotes.
The NHL suspended Philadelphia Flyers forward Jody Shelley two games for hitting Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid from behind during Saturday’s game. Shelley will forfeit nearly $12,000 in salary.
• The Los Angeles Kings activated defenseman Willie Mitchell (wrist) and placed forward Brad Richardson (upper body) on injured reserve.
• Clemson guard Demontez Stitt, the basketball team’s leading scorer at 13.8 points a game, is expected to miss several weeks after surgery on his left knee.
• Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. will drive in the Trucks Series for Kevin Harvick Inc. next season.
Denver Post wire services
