Abstract
Cliff Lee is going to be a free agent at the end of this baseball season. With the interested generated by the Yankees at the trade deadline, it would be foolish for the Yankees not to pursue Lee in free agency. He can solidify an already dominant pitching staff and potentially develop a hall of fame career. It is my job to sell the Yankees to Mr. Lee in order to get him to sign on the dotted line. With the highest payroll in baseball, the Yankees can certainly afford Cliff Lee as well as other free agents as well which will continue to create another dynasty in the Bronx.
1.Intro
The New York Yankees are considered by many to be the greatest sports franchise in history. With twenty-seven championships already won, and potentially another on the way this season, the Yankees continue to produce the winning attitude and winning formula. You have the opportunity to join the long list of champions by signing a contract this offseason. This organization can provide a unique ability to win and can install confidence into your mind. Nothing can compare to putting on the pin-stripes and playing in front of the greatest fans on earth while playing in the greatest stadium on earth, Yankee Stadium. The rich and unmatched history of the Yankees is appealing itself and you could be the next piece of the puzzle to add to that history. Not only is the organization the best, but New York City is an incredible place to live. With the salary the Yankees can offer, you will be able to afford a beautiful home for your family. With all intentions to have you become a member of the Yankees for the rest of your career, I have provided information in this report for it to be nearly impossible to turn this contract offer down. First, the importance of your family and life outside of baseball must be addressed.
2. Cost of Living in NYC
Although many people consider the hustle and bustle of New York to be unattractive, I can make the argument as to why it is beneficial. In this economic climate, it is a positive to see the amount of people that are working in New York and establishing a positive work attitude. Also, these are the fans of New York who love the Yankees and will welcome you with open arms and will be cheering you on each and every start. New York State does impose a heavy tax on housing which can turn many away. However, it ultimately does not affect families from living in New York. This chart represents the cost of living in New York compared to other major U.S cities. Your income will ensure your family a healthy lifestyle in New York.
2.1 Player Satisfaction
Obviously, the price in New York City is higher because of how large the city actually is plus the New York State taxes as mentioned before. Yet, do not let his frighten you because take for example other players who have signed large free agent contracts recently and are finding it enjoyable to live in New York. A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and of course your former teammate with the Cleveland Indians, CC Sabathia have all relatively recently signed a long term contract with the New York Yankees and last year won the World Series. You could be next.
3. Playing Time
You have established yourself as one of the most dominant pitchers in all of Major League Baseball. Winning the Cy Young award in 2008 placed you among the most elite to ever take the rubber. If you join the Yankees, you would be rejoining your former teammate in Cleveland as mentioned in CC Sabathia who also won a Cy Young award with you on the team. Coincidence? Imagine what the two of you can again accomplish in New York. The career statistics you have thus far posted in your career are staggering. If you don't know them, here is a quick look at some of your major pitching stats. These are just your regular season statistics, which are incredible for any pitcher. As you have gotten more accustomed to pitching in the big leagues, your win totals have increased, ERA has dropped and you are able to complete more games yourself which helps the bullpen. You are exactly the type of pitcher the Yankees want in the organization. Mariano Rivera is not going to be in New York forever unfortunately, which is why your complete games are so important. Also, this organization expects to make the postseason each season, and your brief postseason stats worthy a second look and warrant some excellent playing time.
Year Wins ERA Complete Games Strikeouts WHIP SO/9
2002 0 1.74 0 6 1.355 5.2
2003 3 3.61 0 44 1.166 7.6
2004 14 5.43 0 161 1.503 8.1
2005 18 3.79 1 143 1.218 6.4
2006 14 4.40 1 129 1.405 5.8
2007 5 6.29 1 66 1.521 6.1
2008 22 2.54 4 170 1.110 6.9
2009 CLE/PHI 7/7 3.14/3.39 3/3 107/74 1.303/1.130 6.3/8.4
2010 SEA/TEX (All-Star) 8/4 2.34/4.10 5/2 89/85 0.945/1.066 7.7/7.9
Totals 102 3.86 20 1074 1.258 6.9
3.1 Postseason
This statistics are worthy of wearing the Yankee uniform. All the greats before you like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, etc. all had one thing in common and that was the ability to perform in clutch situations. Winning championships was second nature to these players and your postseason numbers show that you are capable of having that true Yankee quality. Series Opponent Wins ERA Complete Games Strikeouts WHIP SO/9
NLDS Colorado 1 1.10 1 10 0.857 5.5
NLCS Los Angeles 1 0.00 0 10 0.375 11.3
World Series New York 2 2.81 1 13 1.000 7.3
Totals ------------ 4 (no losses) 1.56 2 33 0.818 7.4
4. Why the Yankees are the right choice
As mentioned in the introduction, the New York Yankees are the winningest sports franchise in history. The tradition is unparalleled and no other MLB team can come close to the reputation the Yankees have. The arch rival Boston Red Sox cannot even boast a number of championships that make Yankees fans quiver. You have an opportunity to add to that tradition by signing this contract in New York. The Chicago Cubs have not won the World Series in over a hundred years. Sounds like a team with a non winning attitude. The list goes on of teams in Major League Baseball that bow to the Yankees because of all that is accomplished. Below is a list of the top ten MLB franchises based on championships.
4.1 Player Accomplishments
Clearly, the Yankees have established dominance and a winning formula and would like to add twenty-eight with Cliff Lee on that roster. Many great Yankees have come and gone without winning a title, but with the team roster the way it is as of today, your championship ring is an almost guarantee. Here is a quick glimpse at a few of the current Yankees roster with their accomplishments listed. As you can see, these select few players all have one thing in common, that being at least one World Series title. Most players have several titles and are cemented as some of the greatest Yankee players of all time. You have the opportunity to join this long-list of Yankee champions and achieving the ultimate prize of your career.
5. Contract
We have now reached the point in this report where we get to the business side of sports. Throughout your career, you have been traded despite being an elite pitcher in baseball. The Yankees thrive on bringing in big name players and giving them large contracts that may take them to the end of their career. They are prepared to do the same with you. Before the exact offer is made, here is a look at some of the contract offers the Yankees have made to players.
5.1 Previous Salaries
These are just a few contracts in recent years signed by Yankee players. Your contract can be along the same lines as CC Sabathia because of closely related you two players are. Just so you have an idea of what the Yankees are gauging here is a chart of your salaries with each team in your career.
5.2 The Offer
After viewing these numbers, the conclusion and decision for your contract offer has been made. We plan to have you as a member of the Yankees for the remainder of your career, thus being your final contract. The offer is 7 years at 165 Million dollars. That averages out to be 23.5 Million/year which is more than your total career earnings thus far. We will also offer a 10 Million dollar signing bonus with a no-trade clause which we believe will make you happy. Also, if you win 15 games a season, you will receive an additional million dollar check at the end of the season. Any type of award will also warrant a million dollar check. Your service and work on the field cannot go overlooked. The Yankees look to take care of its employees and you are priority number one this offseason.
6. Conclusion
The Yankees firmly believe they have laid out an offer that will be impossible to resist. The cost of living in New York under the salary offered will lead to a very comfortable life for you and your family. The teammates you will acquire on the Yankees have a winning attitude and plan to keep adding championships to their resume. In the end, the decision is yours to make for the best situation for your family. We hope to have a press conference with you very soon to introduce the newest member of the pitching staff in New York. Thank you for your consideration for joining the New York Yankees organization and Go Pin-Stripes!
