Could Cliff Lee Be a Boston Red Sox Rental Soon?

Reports from MLBTradeRumors.com state that the Boston Red Sox could be a potential home for former Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Cliff Lee. 

Although pitching for the last-place Seattle Mariners, Lee is having a solid 2010 season. As of May 23, 2010, he is 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA while racking up 32 K's.

Lee would be a huge addition to Boston's underachieving pitching rotation. 

The odds of this transaction happening are unknown, but I'd say it's very unlikely at this point. I would expect rumors to start picking up regarding Lee in the midst of July. 

Boston would likely have to put together an appealing assortment of prospects to get the Mariners to trade Lee. But keep in mind that Cliff Lee will be entering free agency upon the end of the 2010 campaign, so teams showing interest should be reminded that they are simply "renting" Lee for the remainder of the season, although they could work out a contract extension. 

With the struggles of Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and the inconsistency of Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston should be looking to make a move as they slip farther behind Tampa Bay and New York.

If Boston wants to make a strong playoff run, they need to work quickly before the Rays' lead in the East grows much larger. 

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