MLB Rumors: The 10 Best Cliff Lee Landing Spots for You, the Baseball Fan

Cliff Lee is a free agent, and that means the team that flashes the most cash will have the advantage in the arms race.

Lee most likely enjoys Texas—unfortunately, us fans don't really get a lot of the Rangers during the typical MLB season.

As a casual observer of the game, I choose to take a glance at the 10 places in which Lee would look best. Of course, we are taking into account exposure, market and fanbase.

New York Yankees

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Fans react after catching a home run ball hit by Robinson Cano #24 of the New York Yankees in the bottom of the second inning of Game Four of the ALCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 19, 2010 in the Bronx

This one is a no-brainer. The largest market in baseball, the most exposure and one of the most ginormous fanbases in all of sports.

Lee would certainly look good in pinstripes, and a nine-figure contract would look even better.

Boston Red Sox

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BOSTON - APRIL 04: Fireworks go off during the national anthem before the the Boston Red Sox take on the New York Yankees on April 4, 2010 during Opening Night at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Red Sox Nation would certainly welcome Lee with arms wide open. Cliff Lee in Boston would instantly add fuel to the Yankee-Sox rivalry fire.

Lee vs. CC Sabathia and company. Imagine those pitching matchups on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.

Los Angeles Dodgers

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PHOENIX - SEPTEMBER 24: Fans do the wave during the Major League Baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 24, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Dodgers fans would jump out of their seats for Cliff Lee. Unfortunately, this likely won't happen.

Lee in Los Angeles would be magnificent; he could battle Kobe Bryant for superstar supremacy and likely raise the spirits of a historic fanbase.

St. Louis Cardinals

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ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 10: An interior view of Busch Stadium and the St. Louis Gateway Arch during Game Three of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 10, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Ph

Missouri welcomes Cliff Lee. The Gateway Arch would be a beautiful backdrop for Lee and the Cardinals to pitch their way right to the World Series.

Pujols and Lee, enough said.

Chicago Cubs

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CHICAGO - MAY 30: Fans arrive for the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs on May 30, 2010 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

If St. Louis doesn't work out for Lee, he can just head north a few hundred miles until he arrives in Chi-town.

Chicago fans are desperate for a winner, and Lee would almost give them a chance to be one.

Atlanta Braves

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 11: Fans of the Atlanta Braves cheer before the beginning of the game against the San Francisco Giants during Game Four of the NLDS of the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Turner Field on October 11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Co

That's right, they have the tomahawks out in full force for the arrival of Cliff Lee in Hotlanta.

One of baseball's winningest teams would certainly celebrate a pitcher who has done nothing but win.

Washington Nationals

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WASHINGTON - APRIL 05: A fan holds up a sign before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals on Opening Day at Nationals Park on April 5, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Cliff Lee in D.C.—it just sounds right. Similar to the Civil War, there will be another Lee marching on the capital, only this time he plans on winning.

All jokes aside, could you imagine Cliff Lee and Stephen Strasburg pitching for the same team?

Houston Astros

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HOUSTON - APRIL 05: Fans have their tickets scanned on entering the stadium to watch the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros on Opening Day at Minute Maid Park on April 5, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Astros fans would definitely be in line for tickets if Cliff Lee was suiting up in H-town next season.

Houston has been irrelevant the past few seasons, and that's bad for baseball. Lee instantly makes them worthy of some TV time.

Philadelphia Phillies

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 16: A Philadelphia Phillies fan holds up a sign as the Phillies take on the San Francisco Giants in Game One of the NLCS during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 16, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo

If Cliff Lee returned to the scene of the crime just one year after he was shipped out of Philly, the world would likely end soon after.

But hey, the market is huge, Phillies fans are everywhere and anything is possible.

San Francisco Giants

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 03: San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (L) carries the World Series trophy at the conclusion of the Giants' victory parade on November 3, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Thousands of Giants fans lined the streets of San

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Cliff Lee, Tim Lincecum and the handful of other young and talented pitchers in the Bay Area would instantly make San Francisco a lock to repeat as World Series champions.

Hey, crazier things have happened.

Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.