After a deal between the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees was “just about done,” things apparently stalled and in the end fell apart. There were reports that the sides had agreed in principle to a deal, but at the last minute, the Texas Rangers stepped in and picked up the lefty from their division rival.
Texas will send Justin Smoak and three other prospects to the Mariners for a half-season of Lee. Meanwhile, according to Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees aren’t at all happy.
#Yankees livid with #Mariners. Believed they had deal, then M’s took it to #Rangers saying put Smoak in and Lee is yours. #Rangers jumped. Adams’ ankle injury was excuse for M’s to back out. “You just don’t do business that way,” one Yankee official said. #MLB
Whatever the case may be, Cliff Lee will not be a Minnesota Twin. If the Twins do still have interest in adding a starting pitcher, two names still on the market include Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren.