Cliff Lee joins the Phantastic Phour

Talk about coming straight outta left field. For weeks now, the Cliff Lee Sweepstakes has centered around two teams: his incumbent team, the Texas Rangers; and the team that always finds its way into the free agency foray, the New York Yankees. At times, reports surfaced that a third "mystery team" was still in the mix. The Red Sox were perhaps among the potential mystery suitors, but after the Carl Crawford signing they were sure to have bowed out. Who did that leave? The Los Angeles Angels, who year in, year out, earn marks as the biggest losers in free agency? They never really had a shot at Lee's services. But this mystery team refused to leave the discussion, and as the days wore on, it became increasingly clear that perhaps Lee wouldn't return to Texas or do the thing every marquee free agent does and join the Yankees.

And last night, truly at the 11th hour, it became official: Cliff Lee had spurned his primary suitors and would be joining the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillie Phanatic will have plenty to be fanatic about next summer.

What makes Lee's decision so interesting is not so much that he turned down the Yankees or Rangers, but that the Phillies were ultimately his destination of choice. Just last winter, Lee was a member of the Phillies, after coming over at the trade deadline and helping them reach the World Series against the Yankees. Lee was flat out brilliant against the Bombers, pitching the Phillies to their only two wins in the Series. He went 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA, striking out 13 Yankee batters in 16 innings, and not allowing a single walk. However, after the Phillies were able to acquire Roy Halladay from Toronto, they decided to replenish their farm system by spinning Lee to Seattle in exchange for prospects. Essentially, the prospects canceled out, and they had substituted Lee for Halladay.

Lee didn't last long in Seattle, as the Mariners stumbled out of the gate despite increased expectations, and was dealt to the Rangers in July. It is there that Lee embraced the role of hired gun yet again, pitching the Rangers all the way to the World Series. Lee struggled in his second consecutive Fall Classic, going 0-2 for Texas while posting a 6.94 ERA as they ultimately lost to the San Francisco Giants.

Despite being the top free agent available, Cliff Lee did not announce his plans on a one-hour special on ESPN, with the proceeds going to charity.

Despite these shortcomings, Lee was still deemed to be at the top of the free agent pitching class, and by a rather significant margin. Consider this: before Lee's signing yesterday for $120 million, the pitcher who reeled in the biggest contract was Jorge de la Rosa, who hit the Rockies up for $21.5 million. A $98.5 million gap between the top two free agent pitchers? Lee wasn't just the best free agent pitcher. He was the only free agent pitcher.

In returning to Philadelphia, Lee took both less money and years than he could have received from the Yankees or Rangers, but in the process has made the Phillies clear-cut favorites to win the National League. Consider the pedigree of the top 4 starters in the rotation:

Roy Halladay: 2003 AL Cy Young; threw 19th perfect game in Major League history on 5/29/10; threw 2nd no-hitter in MLB post-season history on 10/6/10; fourth most wins by pitcher in the 2000's (139); three 20-win seasons.

Cliff Lee: 2008 AL Cy Young; led Majors with 10.28 K/BB ratio in '10; prior to 2010 World Series, had never lost a post-season game; one 20-win season.

Roy Oswalt: Two 20-win seasons; tied-5th most wins by pitcher in the 2000's (137)

Cole Hamels: 2008 World Series MVP; led MLB in WHIP, 2008 (1.08)

Who will own the streets of Philadelphia in 2011? The Gang or the Phillies rotation?

Add it all up, and the Phillies have far and away the most impressive rotation in baseball, regardless of who the no. 5 starter is. Like they even need a fifth guy. This rotation, on paper, is undoubtedly the best baseball has seen since the Atlanta Braves of the 1990's trotted out Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery. Those first three names are all bound for Cooperstown. But I don't think it's a stretch at all to say the upside of this rotation just might be better than that of the Braves in their heyday. Could they become the first team since the 1971 Orioles (and just the second team ever) to boast four 20-game winners? The sky is the limit for the Phills, and let's not forget that despite losing Jayson Werth, they still boast Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins in that lineup.

As I preached last week with the Red Sox, it's still just December, and there's a reason they play 162 games. But anyone who doesn't think the Red Sox and Phillies are on a collision course to meet in late October is either extremely delusional or sniffing some killer glue. Spring Training can't come soon enough.