1:50 p.m. update: This story by Jon Heyman of SI.com just went up. It says agreement has been reached, sending Cliff Lee to the Mariners and Roy Halladay to the Phillies.
Foxsports.com also is reporting that the Mariners will send relief pitching prospect Phillippe Aumont to the Blue Jays. The story also mentions that Brandon Morrow would go to the Jays. If that’s the case, it probably would leave the Mariners looking for another starter.
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The tweets are flying furiously over a huge deal that’s, if it’s true, would bring star left-handed starting pitcher Cliff Lee to the Mariners.
Jon Heyman of SI.com put word out through Twitter that the M’s, Phillies and Blue Jays are involved, with the Mariners getting Lee and the Phillies getting Roy Halladay. The Blue Jays are looking for bullpen help in particular, which means any number of M’s arms could be attractive to them. Heyman says the trade won’t be completed today.
The Mariners are saying nothing, and my understanding is that the teams haven’t reached the physical-exam stage of the deal.
Adding a starting pitcher has been one of the Mariners’ main goals this offseason, particularly one who could fall behind staff ace Felix Hernandez. Lee certainly is everything the M’s could want, an innings-eater (231 2/3 innings this year) and a strike-thrower (181 strikeouts vs. 43 walks). He beat the Mariners twice this year, inclluding a complete game on July 16.
Lee made $6 million this year and will make $9 million in 2010 before becoming a free agent.
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