MLB Free Agency: 10 Reasons Cliff Lee's Signing Decides 2011's AL Champion
Where Cliff Lee will end up has been one of the hottest topics talked about this off-season. Lee has even been ranked as the number one free agent on the market this year.
Most people around baseball believe that wherever Lee signs he will make that team the instant favorite to be American League Champion. Some of the rumored destinations for Lee include the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels.
WAR
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Cliff Lee posted a 7.1 WAR this past season. This means he was worth 7.1 more wins than a replacement level player. Compare that to Javier Vazquez, the Yankees' worst starter last year. Vazquez had a -0.2 WAR. This means that if the Yankees signed Lee, they could expect to see their win total increase by at least seven games. Similar claims could be made if other teams brought in Lee.
Lee Is an Ace
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Cliff Lee is one of the best pitchers in baseball. He would be the ace on any staff that he was brought into. This would allow a team to slide each of their pitchers down a spot. In turn, this would allow the team that signs Lee to have a more favorable pitching matchup on most days.
Lee Can Be a Mentor
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Most teams in the majors have at least one budding prospect in their rotation. By bringing Cliff Lee in, a team will instantly provide someone who the young pitchers can learn from. This will improve the pitchers during the 2011 season as well as for the future.
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Leadership
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There can never be too many leaders in a clubhouse. Cliff Lee is the type of player who is willing to be a person who takes charge in the locker room. Lee is willing to step up to motivate others when times may be tough. Having a leader like this puts any team in a much better position to win.
Stopper
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Lee is the type of pitcher that you want on the mound when your team is in the middle of a losing streak. He is the kind of player that will go out there and end the streak with a great pitching performance. This is invaluable because it can completely change a team's momentum.
Playoff Experience
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Lee has pitched in nine playoff games over the past two years. He has pitched two games in league championship series and two games in the World Series. While Lee did struggle in the World Series this year, this experience is still very important. It was Lee's first time on that stage and he now knows how to better prepare himself for his next opportunity.
Ability To Pitch Deep Into Games
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Lee threw over 100 pitches in 20 starts this year. Lee also threw 7 complete games this year. By pitching deep into games, Lee is able to save the bullpen from some wear and tear throughout the year. This allows a team to have a fresher bullpen than anyone else in the playoffs. This advantage cannot be overlooked.
Home, Sweet Home
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The wins added by the addition of Cliff Lee should allow his team to gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The edge here is obvious. Getting an extra home game does a lot for a team. As an added bonus, Lee is a better pitcher at home. He has a better ERA and WHIP in home games compared to road games.
Allows For a Midseason Addition
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By signing Cliff Lee, teams will be able to put fans in the seats on days that he pitches. Also, by signing Lee, teams will bring in millions of dollars of merchandising revenue. This could potentially help the team to bring in an expensive player during the trade deadline.
Whoever Signs Lee Does Not Have to Face Him In The Playoffs
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It is clear that Cliff Lee is one of the best pitchers in not just the American League, but in all of baseball. Having to face him in the postseason is a challenging task. Whoever signs Lee will not have to deal with this issue. His career playoff numbers in nine starts are just dominant. He has a 2.13 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in postseason play.
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