LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.
The Yankees again increased the ante in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes Thursday morning, offering him a seven-year contract, according to a major-league source.
Lee, the biggest prize on this year’s free-agent market, will make his decision before the end of the weekend, another source said.
The Yankees made a strong push for Lee on Wednesday, offering him a whopping six-year contract. Their seven-year proposal appeared to be a response to the seven-year agreement between the Red Sox and free-agent outfielder Carl Crawford late Wednesday night.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told the New York Post that the six-year proposal was for more than $137.5 million but less than $150 million.
The seven-year offer likely is in excess of the $161 deal that the Yankees awarded free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia after the 2008 season.
Sabathia was 28 then. Lee is 32 now.
The Rangers also met with Lee’s agents on Wednesday, but GM Jon Daniels declined to say whether the Rangers made an offer, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, left the meetings late Wednesday return home to Arkansas and present the various proposals from clubs to Lee and his wife, Kristin.
Cashman told the Post that Braunecker informed him that Lee wasn’t close to making a decision.
“He is waiting on more teams to get their stuff together,” Cashman said.
The source, however, said that a decision was indeed near.
The Angels and Nationals are among the other clubs to express interest in Lee, sources say.
The Yankees again increased the ante in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes Thursday morning, offering him a seven-year contract, according to a major-league source.
Lee, the biggest prize on this year’s free-agent market, will make his decision before the end of the weekend, another source said.
The Yankees made a strong push for Lee on Wednesday, offering him a whopping six-year contract. Their seven-year proposal appeared to be a response to the seven-year agreement between the Red Sox and free-agent outfielder Carl Crawford late Wednesday night.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told the New York Post that the six-year proposal was for more than $137.5 million but less than $150 million.
The seven-year offer likely is in excess of the $161 deal that the Yankees awarded free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia after the 2008 season.
Sabathia was 28 then. Lee is 32 now.
The Rangers also met with Lee’s agents on Wednesday, but GM Jon Daniels declined to say whether the Rangers made an offer, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, left the meetings late Wednesday return home to Arkansas and present the various proposals from clubs to Lee and his wife, Kristin.
Cashman told the Post that Braunecker informed him that Lee wasn’t close to making a decision.
“He is waiting on more teams to get their stuff together,” Cashman said.
The source, however, said that a decision was indeed near.
The Angels and Nationals are among the other clubs to express interest in Lee, sources say.
