Lee back Phillies in the agreement for five years (the Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pinch yourself, the Phillies fans.

What was once fantasy became a reality.

CHARLES KRUPA / resume from Associated Press Cliff Lee the Phillies give them a formidable rotation with Roy Halladay Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels. What was the most daring move of the Phillies in the last year?

Cliff Lee, even after more money offered by Texas Ranger American League champion and champion of world series of 27 times the Yankees in New York, has decided to sign with the Phillies.

This is the kind of Philadelphia history most of you probably thought you would never read.

Director General of the Phillies Reuben Amaro Jr. said Tuesday morning that he could neither confirm or deny the agreement but rumbles on the participation of the Phillies in the bid Lee began early Monday night and just before midnight, MLB.com has reported that the Rangers had said the lefthander veteran has been signed with the Phillies.

Lee will receive an agreement would have approximately 100 million over five years with an option to acquire grade. His agent, Darek, Braunecker, did not return telephone calls of The Inquirer. The 32-year-old lefthander has a 12-9 combined with an ERA with Seattle and Texas 3.18 last season and has a 102-61 with an ERA 3.85 career record. It is 10 career Playoffs starts, 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA, including a 4-0 with the Phillies record during the playoffs 2009.

Both the Yankees and the Rangers had the best offers on the table, but Lee apparently fell in love with the Phillies in the 2009 World Series team and wanted to return. According to ESPN, the Yankees offered a contract for six years with an option for a seventh season $ 138 million. After that the Phillies traded him to the last year, Seattle, Mariners have been occasions when Lee sounds like a jilted lover when he spoke of the Phils.

Deal with the Phillies Lee comes exactly 362 days after Amaro exchanged the lefthander for browsers to three perspectives on the same day as acquired team Roy Halladay Blue Jays Toronto for three other perspectives.

The principal then Phillies fans lament was that the team has not kept the two aces. Amaro said at the time that the Phillies to replenish its operating system. The Director General has been widely criticized for much of last season, because the three perspectives the Phillies won for Lee - pitchers Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez and fielder Tyson Gillies - all had disappointing seasons in the minor leagues.

Amaro atoned for the loss of Lee at the trade deadline when he managed to wrest Roy Oswalt far the Houston Astros and the Phillies went 49-19 in their final games 68 to win their fourth National League title is right. Bid team of for a fourth right NL pennant fell short when they lost to the Giants in San Francisco, the team may have had a more profound than the Phillies starting rotation possible World Series champion.

The Phillies will go into next season with the formidable Quartet Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Cole Hamels, which will no doubt be favorites not only win the National League, but also the World Series.

When exchanged Phillies Lee last December, the feeling is that they do not have the means to keep the Halladay and him on the payroll.

Interviewed repeatedly on the payroll in recent weeks, Amaro and team President David Montgomery has refused to say what would be the ceiling for 2011. Amaro said last week that the Phillies would be willing to spend for the right free agent before the end of the winter meeting, but added that he did not team expect to make a great trip.

This statement was similar to his last December just before the Halladay and Lee trades.

The Phillies lose their first round draft pick for signing Lee and their pay is currently more than 170 million to 19 players, amounting to unthinkable two years ago and there may be even for two days. Reported that the team strives to get rid of some salary offering Joe Blanton, Raul Ibanez and Kyle Kendrick trades. But even if they can make these agreements, the Phillies payroll deductions remain in uncharted territory.

This is a story for another day.

History of this day is Clifton stars Lee loved so he decided to Philadelphia, no there is no other place, including Yankee Stadium, where he wanted to play.

Contact staff writer Bob Brookover 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.