ADP Crowdsourcing: Cliff Lee

In today’s edition of ADP Crowdsourcing, we stay with the topical trend. We are using pick number instead of round again, so please vote accordingly.

We all knew that Cliff Lee was going to make a big splash in free agency, and that he would have a large and lasting effect on the teams involved. But, we all assumed those teams were the Yankees and Rangers, not the Phillies.

One of the good things about Cliff Lee returning to Philadelphia is that we already have a sample, albeit a relatively small one, in place. During his 80 innings (okay, you caught me, 79.2 innings) in the NL, Lee struck out over a batter an inning, and posted his best swinging-strike rate since his 52 inning year in 2003. His FIP was a tremendous 2.83, and we can all remember how dominant he was in the playoffs.

Lee is already 32-years old, and will turn 33 before the 2011 season ends. However, he does not rely on velocity, and his control appears to be the sharpest it’s ever been. The defense behind him will be more than adequate, especially in the infield, and getting to face pitchers once again will benefit his numbers. With all the free agency hype, will Lee’s value be overblown? Or could Lee actually be undervalued because of his lack of strikeouts? It’s your job to decide.

Below is a link to the voting form, and please read the wording carefully. This is not where you would draft him, but where you think he’ll be drafted in most leagues. This time around, we’re using pick number instead of round, as it works a little better for top players. For the voting, we’re assuming a 12-team standard league, using 5×5 scoring.

To submit your vote, click here. And while you’re at it, why not submit a fan projection for Lee by clicking here?