Carl Crawford has agreed to a seven-year, $142 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. But what does that mean for Boston's AL East rival, the New York Yankees?
Well if nothing else, we now know the Red Sox have big league money and are willing to spend it.
Just last weekend, Boston traded for San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez. The first baseman is expected to get a deal worth an estimated $154 million over seven-years.
No doubt now the Yankees are pressing to sign Cliff Lee and make a splash of their own this offseason.
After all, the Red Sox are on the verge of becoming the Miami Heat of the 2011 MLB season.
New York has a stellar team, there is little doubt. But can they really afford to sit back and watch the Red Sox reel in all the available talent?
Is the Yankee pitching staff good enough to carry them past Boston's newly acquired sluggers in a seven game ALCS?
No one can answer these questions with a confident and definitive "yes."
Thus making it essential to the Yankees' future success that they sign Cliff Lee before someone else does.
Lee would solidify New York's starting rotation and make them the odds on favorite to win the AL East in many minds.
The Yankees have six-year contract, which they increased to seven years following the Crawford signing, worth between $140-150 million on the table for Lee, but will he bite?
No one knows for sure yet. Lee likes living in Arkansas and maybe he doesn't need another Escalade. Either way we will find out shortly.
But perhaps more intimidating than who they Red Sox signed, is how they signed them. Boston's total disregard for it's bank account has to be somewhat frightening to the Yankees' front office.
Boston has laid out all the chips in order to win and now it's New York's turn to make a move.
Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.
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