Just because the Philadelphia Phillies are willing to talk Cliff Lee doesn't mean that they'll trade Cliff Lee -- and just because the Texas Rangers are interested in Lee doesn't mean that they're going to be the team to acquire him. According to T.R. Sullivan, the chances of the Rangers reacquiring Lee are less than one percent.
An industry source said the chances of Lee returning to the Rangers are "less than one percent."
If the Rangers were to acquire Lee, they would want the Phillies to assume a sizable chunk of that. The Phillies aren't so inclined.
Lee will make $25 million dollars per year each of the next three years, before making $12.5 million dollars in 2016. The financial aspect of the deal makes it difficult for Texas to justify parting with top prospects, which is what the Phillies would likely want in the deal.
Earlier on Monday, Buster Olney speculated that Mike Olt might be a centerpiece of a Lee deal, but Lee's salary might be a deterrent to that.