will we ever win?

Cliff Lee's back and the NL's in trouble

Despite being discarded in a bad trade before this past season following a lights-out 2009 playoff performance, Cliff Lee has accepted a deal to rejoin the Phillies. And he's taking a fair bit less than he could making elsewhere, to boot.

Even in a post-Jayson Werth salary world, it's hard to believe the Phillies made this happen.

This thing came out of left field (baseball metaphor!), and I'm still seeing varying reports of Lee making from $100 million to $120 million over five years from the Phils. But however it comes out, Lee will be giving up several million per year to pitch in Philly instead of the Bronx or Texas. And maybe even more beyond the five years.

Obviously this goes beyond wanting to win — Lee could certainly win with the Yankees and Texas. He must have sincerely liked playing here, was sincerely heart-broken when he was moved, and maybe appreciated how pissed the fans were with his being traded.

Considering how much payroll the team will be putting out, I have to figure Joe Blanton will be traded (even if they have to suck up some of his salary). This CSN Philly article suggests Raul Ibanez might be moved too, which makes the outfield sort of suspect if it happens depending on how they replace him.

But should I even be thinking about the offense at this point when it looks like the rotation will consist of Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt?

Probably not. None of the other NL teams are, certainly.

A Philly team not pocketing savings when a free agent leaves town? Four of the best pitchers in the game on one staff? A GM correcting a mistake in the most direct way possible?

These are crazy times we live in, folks.