Cliff Lee is a man with options. Starting Saturday night, after the final pitch of the World Series, Lee has the choice to sign with any team that offers an attractive contract. However, two teams are tipped to be the favourite bidders in the running for Lee’s skill; The Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees.

It is expected that the Yankees will submit the highest bid since for them, money is not an issue. However, this alone does not guarantee their success at being able to lure the left-hander. Lee has been reported to say that the three months spent with the Texas Rangers has been the most pleasurable in his career. Chuck Greenberg, the Texas Rangers managing partner-in-waiting has also given strong indicators that the team is willing to bend over backwards in their desire to re-sign Lee.

Lee, who is the top pitcher in the market by a wide margin, has the desire to play for a team that wins. This is very revealing, considering the Rangers advanced to the World Series. Although they lost the first and last games of the Fall Classic to San Francisco, Lee pitched successfully for the team in the first two rounds of the game.

Lee also praised the Texas Rangers as a team built to win, in remarks that reveal that the Yankee’s richest deal is not a sure-fire way of signing the free agent. He has earned the right to be a free agent after six years of service time to make a decision about the future of his career.

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