I honestly hope you had something better to do than follow the Cliff Lee saga today. Because unless you favor the theater of the absurd, you likely got nowhere but frustrated. Here’s what happened, in essence.

• The Nats are “very much” in on Cliff Lee, to the point that they’d offer seven years.
• Two hours later: oops, the Nats aren’t in on Lee.
• A team not named the Nats has offered Lee seven years.
• Wait, now there are two teams who have offered seven years. It’s a double mystery!
• Right on cue, the Angels are mentioned as suitors. Not only that, they could trade a pitcher to make room for him.
• Of course, amid all of these rumors, we hear that the two presumed suitors, the Yankees and the Rangers, not only won’t go to seven years, but also haven’t been allowed to make an offer. So random mystery teams can offer seven years when seven years is insane, but the Yankees can’t make their own offer.

It adds up to nothing but a mockery. Given the way this week has unfolded, there’s absolutely no reason to pay attention to anything said about Lee until he’s on the verge of signing a deal. It’s pretty clear that Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, is trying to play everyone. I don’t blame him. But he can’t blame me for tuning out.