Cliff Lee News

Philadelphia Phillies The Phillies have been the class of the NL the past two seasons and the farm system has had plenty to do with it.

Will Cliff Lee bring the Cy Young to Philadelphia in 2010? When the Phillies acquired lefty Cliff Lee in a trade-deadline deal with the Cleveland Indians, they got an American League Cy Young Award winner.

At 12:01 a.m. today, baseball's shopping season began. The Phillies, however, are in no rush to buy.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was on his way to Citizens Bank Park at 8 a.m. on Thursday to make final preparations for baseball's free-agent signing period, which got under way at midnight Friday.

Want to know the most amazing stat of this postseason? It wasn't Cole Hamels' or Cliff Lee's ERA, or Carlos Ruiz's batting average, or Ryan Howard's RBIs in the first two rounds or strikeouts in the World Series.

Ita s no secret that the Phillies are in need of another reliable starting pitcher, because you cana t count on Cliff Lee being as great as he was down the stretch and carry the entire pitching staff throughout a full season.

Cole Hamels isn't leaving Philadelphia. And, barring some giveaway, Roy Halladay isn't coming.

If the Phillies are going to get back to the World Series in 2010, they will need Cole Hamels to pitch like Cole Hamels and quit channeling his inner Tyler Green.

The dream died early for the Phillies, an entertaining and suspense-filled season falling two wins short of their second straight World Series.

While overshadowed by the postseason exploits of Cole Hamels in 2008 and Cliff Lee in 2009 and the most powerful lineup in the National League, the Phillies owe plenty of credit to their defense for back-to-back World Series appearances.

Shane Victorino was making the long, lonely jog back to the dugout after grounding out to second base for the final out of the World Series as the Yankees were celebrating in a mass of humanity near the pitcher's mound.

Hey, Philadelphia Flynnie, why the long face? Before we leave the Phillies alone for the winter, let's fix them first.

News, notes and quotes from the General Managers meetings at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport Hotel.

In a report for MLB.com , Todd Zolecki says that the Phillies have exercised their option on Cliff Lee .

As they dealt with their present pain and watched the Yankees celebrate a World Series title, the Phillies weren't able to immediately remedy their shattered spirits with thoughts about their bright future.

After settling for lefthander Cliff Lee at the nonwaiver trading deadline this season, the Phillies could make another run at Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Baseball's trade market sprang to life two days after the World Series. Two pitchers were blocked from becoming eligible for free agency when teams exercised their 2010 options Friday.

Each game is captured in analytical detail by Philadelphia Magazinea s 2008 a oeBest Sportswritera Jason Weitzel, along with photos, behind-the-scenes access and exclusive interviews by Michael McNesby, making this 370-page compendium a must-own for all fans.

THE OUTLOOK was bleak. It always is when a team is down by three games to one in a best-of-seven series.

Go back to late March. Think about some of the things that had to go right for the Philadelphia Phillies to return to the World Series.