Should the St. Louis Cardinals trade for Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee?

I woke up to the latest trade rumors of the St. Louis Cardinals making a move for Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee.
Jul 21, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee (33) pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Image Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
I don’t know whether such a trade will happen but I do know that the Cardinals would be giving up a lot for a veteran pitcher that is turning 35 in one month from now. In December 2010, Lee signed as a free agent with the Phillies. He agreed to a 5 year deal for $120 million (11-15) with a vesting option for the 2016 season. If the Cards were to trade for him, the Cards would be getting him for two seasons at the minimum an would pay $70 million according to Jon Heyman.

One executive told Heyman that “it’ll take you three or four best prospects, plus you’d have to take all the money” to get Lee.

Derrick Goold reports that the Cardinals have no plans to rent a player for two months and that general manager John Mozeliak would consider sending a top prospect “for the right piece.”

Is it worth it to send Michael Wacha, Matt Adams, and Carlos Martinez to the Phillies? Not at that value, no. Wacha is a pitcher that will be in the rotation for years to come. Even at this value, I cannot justify making a deal with the Phillies.

Word from Ken Rosenthal is that the Cardinals will not be making a trade for Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy.