It appears that Christmas has come a week early for Philadelphia Phillies’ fans, who this year will find under their collective tree a 6’3” lefthander who represents the most prized catch in this year’s free agent sweepstakes.  Pending physical examination, Cliff Lee has agreed to rejoin the Phillies.

Lee, courted heavily by the New York Yankees, eschewed their more lucrative offer, leaving almost $40 million dollars on the table to join the team with whom he had spent a half season in 2009.  That year, the Yankees foiled Philadelphia plans for a second straight World Series title.  Lee, however, performed admirably, notching victories in his two starts – the only games Philadelphia won in that World Series.

Like Greg Maddox in 1992, Lee snubbed the Yankees to pitch in an environment and organization with which he felt more comfortable.  He joins Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt to form the most formidable starting pitching foursome since perhaps “Spahn and Sain and two days of rain.”

With Lee on board, it is rumored that the Phillies will be shopping starting pitcher Joe Blanton to the Boston Red Sox.  With the string of bartering successes engineered by GM Ruben Amaro Jr., maybe the Phils can coax the Sox to part with Carl Crawford in exchange.  Now, that would make for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!