You may have forgotten that Cliff Lee is still on the Phillies payroll and even on the Phillies roster, though disabled. While the Phillies originally though Lee might start throwing around now in the middle of March when he announced he would forego surgery to try to rehab, Lee is not ready. Did you remember that he might be an option?
Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly writes that the original timetable would not happen:
Lee, who has been resting and rehabbing his injured elbow at home in Arkansas since shutting down in March, was in Philadelphia for an exam on Tuesday, Amaro said. There were hopes that Lee would be throwing by now. But he was told to hold off another three or four weeks.
“He’s not going to begin throwing for another three or four weeks,” Amaro said. “He’s doing well. He’s in great shape. He’s taking care of himself, but he’s not really prepared to start throwing yet. We’ll see what happens over the next month or so. Probably in another month or so we’ll know a little more. Best-case [scenario] he’d be throwing right about now. He’s not ready to do it.”
Only when he starts throwing can Lee make the call whether he wants to try to build up the arm strength to try to pitch this season or have surgery, which would require nine months of rehab. Lee has had a small tear in his flexor tendon for more than a year.
Anything out of Lee this season feels like a bonus.
Lee's option likely will not vest for 2015, and the Phillies are unlikely to pick it up. If Lee can prove himself to be healthy before the season ends, he will have a better chance to land with a team in 2016. Lee's track record is probably enough to have some teams take a chance on at least a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Ending the season healthy would certainly encourage teams to take the chance on a Major League deal.
