According to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Andy Martino, the Phillies have internally discussed the idea of signing Cliff Lee to a long-term contract extension this offseason.
"Clearly, it's on our minds, but we haven't made a decision if we will yet," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday. "Naturally you have to think about it, but we're more focused on him pitching in this series." Lee has been lights out this postseason and went 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA with the Phillies during regulation. He's due for a massive contract, but the Phillies hold a $9MM bargain option on him for 2010 so they will essentially hold the upper hand if negotiations take place this winter.
Lee may have to put in another ace-like season in Philadelphia if he wants the kind of money (seven years, $161MM) that CC Sabathia was awarded last winter. Or perhaps he'll want to capitalize on his fantastic 2009 postseason and settle on a long-term deal that, either way, will be fairly handsome.
