Lee_werthYou're coming with me

Stop it.  Stop them.  Somebody, please.

Multiple reports out of the Winter Meetings say the Nationals are very much interested in Clifton Phifer Lee and may make him an offer he can't refuse offer him a ridiculous contract.

Buster Olney (@buster_espn):

growing speculation among rival agents and executives that the Nationals are going to throw a HUGE number at Cliff Lee

 

Jon Heyman (@SI_JonHeyman):

Source: #nats "very much'' in on cliff lee. Rumor is they may throw out 7 year offer.

 

NY Daily News:

According to a major-league source, the Nationals – who already blew the market open with their seven-year, $126 million deal with Jayson Werth – are looking to make another big splash, one that would send shockwaves throughout the hot stove market.

The source indicated that the Yankees – who have been viewed as the frontrunners to land the 2008 American League Cy Young winner – are not willing to go to a seventh year for the 32-year-old Lee.

 

FOX Sports:

The New York Yankees are the perceived front-runner to land Lee.

However, one source with knowledge of the team’s thinking insisted that the Yankees do not plan to offer the pitcher a seven-year deal.

 

Adam Kilgore (@adamkilgoreWP) of The Washington Post Reports the Nats are interested, but the seven-year offer won't be made:

Don't completely rule out Cliff Lee signing with the Nats, or team and agent continuing dialogue. The 7-year offer, though, won't be made.

 

Philly Sports Daily also confirmed the Nats' interested in Lee:

A source with knowledge of the situation told Philly Sports Daily that the Washington Nationals are interested in signing Lee and making their second shocking move of the offseason.

The source said it’s hard to tell how serious Washington is, though the team did meet with Lee’s representatives. It was uncertain if an offer had been made.

 

At some point over the last few days, the Nats must have said "F you, World, we're going for it." Perhaps they are turning into the Yankees of the NL East, as douchebag Bryce Harper said.

It's not as crazy as it sounds, the Nationals made a very real run at Mark Teixeira two years ago, so they're serious about trying to win.  Lee and Werth are also good friends.  Lee said he often texted Werth during the season (ZOMG LeBron-D Wade style plot).  

This would make the Nationals a very formidable opponent this year and a serious contender in 2012, when Stephen Stasburg comes back from Tommy John Surgery and Bryce Harper likely makes The Show.

Stay tuned.