No Big Deal. . .

Brad Mangini/SI.com

As a Met fan I was delighted to hear that Cliff Lee decided to pass on the Yankees 7 year 161 million dollar offer. It was finally nice to see a player pass on "Yankee money." It was thought he would return to the Texas Rangers, a team he had taken to the World Series. Instead, he signs with the Philadelphia Phillies. If I didn't live in Southern New Jersey, I really wouldn't care, but all the Phillie fans and the local news shows have to make a big deal out of it. I admit, it is shocking that the Phillies signed him(out of nowhere), but lets look at the larger picture. Roy Halladay, is a year older(in his early 30's), and the team traded top prospects for him. Roy Oswalt(who is also an aging picture) was acquired for JA Happ and more top prospects. They have Cole Hamels who battled through some injuries and seems can be rattled at times. Add Lee, who will turn 33 next year, and you have a very good but old rotation. Let's add in the fact that Rollins and Utley are over 30 and are beginning to decline(both had significant injuries last year). Jayson Werth is now gone,Raul Ibanez was already old and struggled last year, Shane Victorino will be 31 next year, and Ryan Howard is 30. So if the Phillies do not win this year(which is no guarantee)then they will continue to age and progressively get worse. By the way they have no top young talent to fall back on in the minors because they traded them all. So it's NO BIG DEAL, really!