ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Despite soaking from a champagne shower in the middle of the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field, general managing partner Chuck Greenberg was already playing salesman.

After watching Cliff Lee's dominant performance against the Rays in Game 5 (and Game 1, too, for that matter), Greenberg stressed the club really wants to keep the ace.

"We made clear the day we got the team that we want Cliff to stay here," Greenberg said. "He likes it here. He's comfortable here."

Greenberg believes that if the team keeps winning, the chances of Lee staying get better and better.

"There's a saying that I've heard in sports: Win today, walk together forever. The more we win, the more we're bonded together and the more likely it is we'll stay together. At the end of the day, where Cliff chooses to end up is where Cliff ends up. But we love having him here. I think he really enjoys it here. I hope we can find a way to stay together.

Greenberg said the club is prepared to make a competitive offer to Lee once the season is over.

"We've always been willing to do that," Greenberg said. "At the end of the day, it's going to be his decision. Our desire is to have him here and we made that clear on Day 1 and that hasn't changed."