Last night, in response to a tweet from Jamey Newberg, asking what, from Seattle's standpoint, a reasonable package for Cliff Lee would be, Dave Cameron had the following response:
@NewbergReport Assuming I have to pick up all of the salary: Perez, Davis, + lesser guy.
Let's assume that offer is on the table right now -- Seattle pays Cliff Lee what he is owed the rest of the season and sends Lee to Texas, and Texas gives up Martin Perez, Chris Davis, and, say, Blake Beavan.
Do you make that trade?
"Only if we can negotiate an extension" is not an option. Lee isn't going to negotiate an extension.