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PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee passed up a more lucrative offer from the New York Yankees to return to Philadelphia, MLB.com reports. The baseball Web site said its sources say Lee will make about $120 million over five years with the Phillies, with a vesting option for a sixth year that would make the deal worth up to $135 million.
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The Yankees offered him $138 million for six years with a vesting option that would have given him $154 million, ESPN.com reported.
Lee helped the Texas Rangers reach the World Series for the first time this past season. The 32-year-old left-hander posted a 3.18 ERA over 28 starts in 2010.
He led Philadelphia to the 2009 Series before being traded to Seattle last December.
The Phillies wound up losing to San Francisco in the National League championship series in 2010.
In addition to Lee, the Phillies will now head into the 2011 season with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in their starting rotation. That combination has the Phillies excited.
"We're like, 'Whoa,'" center fielder Shane Victorino said. "I had heard about this mystery team. I was like, 'There's no way it's us.' Then I heard the Phillies were back in it. I texted Cliff last week and he never said anything. I texted him again today when everything started coming out. I'm like, 'Come on.' He finally texted me back, 'I'm back,' and I was like, 'Oh my goodness.' I thought there was no way we're bringing him back.
"You hear about a deal like this and you're kind of shocked. But this shows how much Cliff loved Philly. He turned down money to come back. That says a lot about him."
