Lee might take his time choosing team
As much as the Yankees and Rangers would like a quick resolution to the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, it probably is not going to happen.
The free agent and his agent, Darek Braunecker, intend to meet with clubs besides the Yankees, a major league source said. Those meetings easily could delay Lee’s decision until the winter meetings in early December or even longer.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made the first personal contact with Lee, flying to Arkansas on Tuesday night and staying until late Wednesday afternoon. But the calendar for the rest of the month makes a series of such meetings with other teams unlikely.
Next week, GMs and owners will gather for their own meetings in Orlando, Fla. The week after that is a short one because of the Thanksgiving holiday. The winter meetings, also in Orlando, are Dec. 6-9.
Seven to eight teams initially showed interest in Lee, sources said, though some are more serious than others. The list of possible suitors for the left-hander includes the Yankees, Rangers, Nationals, Phillies, Dodgers, Angels and Red Sox.
-- Ken Rosenthal
