NEW YORK — At some point, it seems, Cliff Lee figured it wasn’t just about the money.
Baseball’s hottest free agent could have had $150 million and a spot on the biggest stage in the game with its most successful team — the Yankees, winners of 27 World Series. Instead, the pitcher left $30 million on the table.
Lee picked the Phillies, winners of just two titles in more than a century — and a team that traded him after he led it into the World Series in 2009.
The Phillies will give him $120 million guaranteed over the next five seasons.
Why does a guy leave all that money behind? Apparently, because he had all he needed — something agents and others in the financial end of baseball claim happens more than you might expect. Lee and his family liked Philadelphia. Plus, his wife Kristen had complained New York fans were rude and spat at the Rangers’ wives during the American League Championship Series this fall when Lee was pitching for Texas, his other big suitor this offseason.
Lee is expected to take a physical and seal the deal today in Philadelphia.
Perhaps the last time a premier free agent turned down this much money relative to his salary was in December 1992, when pitcher Greg Maddux stayed with the Braves for $28 million over five years. He declined a $34 million offer from the Yankees that agent Scott Boras said could have escalated to about $38 million.
“He’s at a place he obviously wanted to be at,” Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler said. “He sent me a text that said, ‘Great playing with you, sorry, see you in the World Series.’ “
