Cliff Lee Joining the Dodgers?

According to Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers have begun internal discussions about the possibility of acquiring 2008 AL CY young award winner Cliff Lee.

However, according to Rosenthal's source odds are a deal won't be struck for the obvious reason; the price tag may be way too high.

It is believed that the Indians would command at least one potential top end rotation pitcher to the likes of Braves starter Tommy Hanson or Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz.

While the Dodgers certainly have the prospects to fit the need, say either Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw, it appears that they are both untouchable (rightly so).

The best pitching prospect the Dodgers possess right now is right-hander James McDonald, but scouts don't believe he is a top end rotation guy. Rosenthal does however believe that a package of McDonald, third baseman Blake Dewitt and one or two other prospects might be enough to satisfy the Indians.

Lee who is 4-6 with a 2.94 ERA is certainly going to command a great deal of interest on the market. With the Indians dropping farther and farther out of contention each day his availability becomes more and more realistic.

In the end I doubt Lee will get traded, simply because I can't imagine anybody giving up a young top end rotation guy. But, if a team out there like the Dodgers, Red Sox or even the Phillies believes Lee can put them over the hump, anything is possible (heck Shaq is in Cleveland these days).

Lets put the odds at 50/1 for today. Stay tuned, this one could get interesting.