MLB Online Wagering Update: Phillies Signing Lee Shifts Power in Baseball Universe. It’s no real surprise that free agent starting pitcher Cliff Lee left the Texas Rangers to sign a massive deal with an MLB online wagering opponent. But what is surprising is the team that inked the deal with.
The Evil Empire and its massive checkbook was unable to persuade Lee, the premiere pitcher in free agency and the only ace available, to move to the Bronx and the Yankees millions were rebuffed in favor the Philadelphia Phillies.
It’s a surprising development in an offseason that’s been full of surprises (Jayson Werth to the Nats for $126 million a year?) and one that will have a profound impact on the 2011 MLB online wagering action.
The San Francisco Giants own the World Series in 2010 and enjoyed a Cinderella run to the top of the sport. But no one is going to run out and make an online wager on this team repeating as champs, especially since the Phillies just added Lee to their already dazzling pitching staff.
Lee’s value has been inflated simply because there’s a dearth of quality pitching in free agency this year and because he’s coming off an almost mythic post season in 2010. He won his first 3 games of the postseason giving up just 2.0 ER in 3 starts and 24.0 inning of work. He was not at his best in the World Series but still pitched well.
Nonetheless he’ll be a major addition to what is now, hands down, the best starting staff in the MLB online wager action.
Lee will join Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, the newly acquired Roy Oswald and Cole Hammels in a rotation that will feature four pitchers that would all be #1 starter on almost every other team.
Philadelphia was the best team in the NL last season and it will be even better thin 2011.
Further, by signing Lee, the Phillies deny the Yankees a chance to shore up their sagging rotation and with no other premier pitchers in free agency and an aging lineup; New York is likely to struggle in the upcoming baseball season.