[Edit: Joel Sherman of the NY Post is now reporting that the Mariners have backed away from the deal.  I feel like I've been played.  Sort of.]

Our friends at RAB have the updates

Thoughts:

I’ve been saying this to friends for a while. I love Cliff Lee. Absolutely love him. That said, I would have much preferred to acquire him in the offseason, when he’d cost money and not prospects, and not be a couple months’ rental.

Lee’s said he wanted to try the Free Agent market and there is, of course, the possibility that the Yankees will be able to resign him, but if they can’t, it’d be an awfully steep price to pay.

Losing Jesus Montero hurts because, as a fan, I invested so much emotion in his development. Before you yell at me for being so stupid–I am a fan. I’m allowed to get involved. Ask anyone in Cleveland how they’re feeling this morning…it’s part of being a fan, getting involved.

That said, if I’m to remain rational and objective, I have these thoughts:

  • That the Yankees must be really worried about what happens when Hughes (fast-approaches) his innings limit.  I know some of you are chomping at the bit that they trade Javy, but I see it more as an excuse to give Hughes some time off and a viable fourth starter option in the playoffs.  Which is, of course, ridiculous, because Lee is a #1 guy.
  • They must really like Romine as a catcher.  The Yankees are deep at starting catching in the lower levels, all the way down to the GCL and Gary Sanchez.
  • Unless the Yankees get Cliff Lee to sign an extension, and then Cliff Lee is still the ’08, ’09 and ’10 and not ’07 version of Cliff Lee throughout the entire thing, this could go down as being not very good for Cashman’s legacy.

There’s a line here that my friends hate, but it, in this instance, is actually applicable….something about time…