Both Nolan Ryan and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels met with Cliff Lee in Arkansas on Tuesday and Ryan believes that Lee will likely sign somewhere by Christmas.
↵↵↵"I think they’d like to get it done before Christmas, but I don't think that's a deadline by any means," said Ryan, who, along with general manager Jon Daniels, met with Lee, his wife Kristen and agent Darek Braunecker in Little Rock, Ark., on Tuesday. "I think we went just to visit with them and see if there had been any changes from the last time we were over there. I know they want the process to move along and to start that process."
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Ryan is also optimistic that the Rangers will be able to sign Lee, saying, "I think if we’re competitive, we’re going to go a lot of consideration."
↵Lee is obviously drawing lots of interest from the New York Yankees, who is Texas' main competitor in the Lee sweepstakes. The Nationals are believed to be a darkhorse, but are not likely to land Lee.
↵We'll find out a fair amount about Lee when he signs - if he takes the extra money to play in New York or if he'll stay with the team who he led to the World Series that's also nearby his home in Arkansas. I'm hoping the Rangers do re-sign Lee, but not at a contract that would cripple them headed into the future. He will be 33 next season and handing him a six-year contract is probably unwise for the longterm.