It’s no surprise there’s trash talk coming out of New York, but this time it’s from the Yankees.
According to ESPN.com, Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg said that his organization opened up the window of opportunity for pitcher Cliff Lee to re-sign with the Philadelphia Phillies, preventing a potential deal with New York.
"I think if we wouldn't have gone to Arkansas that last time, I think he was going to sign with the Yankees," Greenberg said. "We pried the door open a little bit to give ourselves another opportunity. And ultimately the Phillies were able to take advantage of that opportunity that we created. While we would have preferred that he would have chosen to go with us, we're real pleased that he's going to the other league."
"I think Chuck is delusional," Yankees president Randy Levine said in response to Greenberg’s comments. "He has been running the Rangers for a few minutes and seems to believe he's mastered what everyone else is thinking. I think he should let Cliff Lee speak for himself. I'll be impressed when he demonstrates he can keep the Rangers off welfare.
"What I mean is make them not be a revenue-sharing recipient for three years in a row, without taking financing from baseball or advance money from television networks," Levine continued. "Then I'll be impressed."
This is not the first instance of badmouthing between the two teams, as arguments have sprung up since the Rangers eliminated the Yankees in the American League Championship Series this past season. At one point, Greenberg even speculated that Lee did not want to play in New York because of the way fans treated his wife.
