Cliff Lee Signs with Philadelphia Phillies; Will the Rangers Go After Zack Greinke?

So, the “mystery team” turned out to be the Philadelphia Phillies in the bid to get Cliff Lee and apparently their offer was too good to turn down.  Well, not really, if you ask me.  He must have just wanted to be in Philly because I’m pretty sure the Rangers offer was better than the Phillies.  Reportedly, it was a five-year deal with a sixth year option that could bring the total contract amount to around $120 million.  Do I wish he would have re-signed with the Rangers?  Of course, I do.  I’m just happy he didn’t sign with the Yankees!

But you know what?  I think the Rangers will be just fine without him.  Sure, the Phillies are going to have a very dominating four-man starting rotation, but I think if the Rangers can just get their momentum in place, they can still be contenders.  They have several excellent pitchers in their starting rotation, C.J. Wilson to name one.  Sure, he may have improved with Lee around but I think he’s got what it takes to survive without him. Plus, they’ll get two high draft picks in the 2011 MLB Draft, which looks pretty promising.

So, the question now is, “What move will the Rangers make?”  Because it’s time for Plan B.

The answers are endless and we are going to explore them all right here at Nolan Writin’.  The first one is right now but only slightly:  Will the Rangers go after Zack Greinke?

Zack Greinke has been in some trading rumors as of late but he and the Royals was waiting until Lee made his final decision of where he would pitch in 2011.  He is five years younger, so he’ll last longer than Lee ever would have and there is absolutely no reason for anyone to believe than the young man cannot return to his form that he had in 2009.

Whether or not the Rangers will go after 2009 Cy Young Award winner, I don’t know.  If they do, though, they definitely have some competition up their sleeves because the Blue Jays, Nationals, and a number of other teams are in the process of trying to land him.  They’ll also have to pay a pretty penny for the talented 27-year-old pitcher.  In addition, the Royals aren’t 100% sure they want to trade him.

We’ll keep you posted as soon we hear something.