Rangers' execs hold second meeting with Lee

The Yankees haven't made an offer to Cliff Lee, and probably won't until next week's winter meetings, and neither has the team considered to be their stiffest competition in landing the lefthanded ace.

But the Rangers did continue their pitch to keep Lee, meeting with him at his Arkansas home Tuesday, the second time they've done so this offseason.

Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler disclosed the meeting Wednesday on a Dallas radio station and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confirmed the get-together, which also included team president Nolan Ryan.

"Basically, I said, 'What's going on in Arkansas?' " Kinsler told ESPN 103.3 FM. " '[Lee] said, 'The Rangers are down here again.' I was like, 'Well, just sign whatever they give you.' He said, 'Let's see what happens. We have to wait it out.' ''

The Yankees were the first team to meet with Lee general manager Brian Cashman paid a visit shortly after free agency began.

Kinsler's recounting of the text conversation backed up what numerous sources have indicated - that Lee is approaching free agency without sentimentality.

"I said, 'Remember, I like being your teammate,' '' Kinsler said. "And he said, 'I do, too, but we have to wait it out.' I said, 'Just sign it.' And then he sent me a picture of a deer .''

One source said not to expect an offer from the Yankees until next week's winter meetings, which begin Monday in Orlando, Fla. An official said Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, probably isn't especially interested in fielding offers from teams this week anyway, instead wanting to wait so he - and by extension his client - can be the "star" at the meetings.

With Lee, 32, clearly the cream of this year's free-agent crop, that spotlight already was guaranteed. The question is how much Lee will get and for how many years.

The Rangers, who according to Braunecker are among the half dozen teams chasing Lee, clearly are trying to sell the pitcher on Texas not having a state income tax and the shorter distance between Dallas and his home in Arkansas.

But few in the industry believe this will be anything but a money deal. And even if the Rangers are willing to offer a five-year deal, as has been reported, the Yankees certainly would match that, and with more money, perhaps $23 million per season.

"If it's just a financial decision," one executive said, "financially no one's going to challenge the Yankees."