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Cliff Lee Rumors: Tuesday

We heard yesterday that the market for Cliff Lee was beginning to heat up, and that at least one team would be willing to offer Lee a seven-year deal, but it wasn't the Yankees. Here are today's Lee rumors for your reading pleasure:

• It sounds like the Yankees made Lee an offer. Braunecker spoke to Cashman tonight and when the YES Network's Jack Curry asked if the Yankees presented a proposal, the agent declined comment and smiled (Twitter link).
• The Angels reached out to Lee's representatives and started pursuing him today, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. Crasnick hears that it's doubtful Lee signs before the Winter Meetings end.
• The Nationals are not in on Lee, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link). GM Mike Rizzo said earlier today that he has some interest in the lefty.
• Though GM Tony Reagins downplayed the Angels-Lee connection, Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse hears that the Halos are discussing Lee and will stay in touch with his agent (Twitter link).
• The Yankees are on the verge of making Lee a lucrative offer and are awaiting the go-ahead from Braunecker, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. GM Brian Cashman says he's ready to get serious.
• Lee now has two seven-year offers for $20MM or more per season, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
• Angels GM Tony Reagins tells Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times that the Angels are not the mystery team that has offered Lee seven years.
• Rangers president Nolan Ryan is more optimistic about signing Lee this week than he was last week, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter).
• Rizzo confirmed that he met with Lee's agent again, but says the Nationals are a "real long shot" to sign him, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Angels manager Mike Scioscia told Yahoo's Steve Henson that a pitcher like Lee makes a team better (Twitter link).
• Nationals GM Mike Rizzo met with Braunecker for the second time this week today, reports Mark Zuckerman.
• A Yankees official told Feinsand that Lee getting seven-year offer "won't affect what we do."  They will not go past six years for the lefty.  The Yankees are frustrated with the slow pace of the Lee talks, reports Rosenthal.
• Lee has at least one seven-year offer for $20-25MM - not from the Nationals - tweets Heyman.
• Lee's agent Darek Braunecker described his discussions with the Rangers and Yankees as "positive" and "productive," talking to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  Braunecker also said he's "maintaining dialogue" with the Nationals.
• The Nationals are prepared to offer Lee a seven-year deal, reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.  But talking to two Nationals sources, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports that such an offer has zero chance of happening.  The contract length is very important to Lee, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  There is growing speculation among rival executives and agents that the Nationals will throw a huge number at Lee, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.
• Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that the Yankees have vowed not to exceed six years or the $161MM that they gave Sabathia for Lee. Sherman feels the Yankees will top out at $144MM-$150MM over six years. As GM Brian Cashman said, Sabathia's presence as an ace makes Lee a "pleasant addition," but not a necessity.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports discusses how signing Lee could affect Sabathia.

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