Photo: Philliedelphia.com/Matt Rappa
This is the $27.5 million question: will Cliff Lee pitch in 2015? If Lee finishes 2015 with the Phillies, his $27.5 million option will vest for 2016. If Lee is healthy and pitching well, the Phillies can trade him. As time goes on, Lee's status remains worrysome…and the Phillies have no updates.
Jim Hawkins of CSN Philly wrote today that Phillies team communications director Greg Casterioto went out of his way to say that the team had no update on Lee:
Noticing a small cluster of reporters standing in the middle of the Phillies’ clubhouse after batting practice on Sunday, Greg Casterioto, the team's communications director announced: “If you’re waiting for an update on Cliff Lee, there is no update today.”
Scott Sheridan, Phillies team trainer, said in a CSN Philly update that Lee has the same small tear in his flexor tendon that he had last year and that it looks exactly the same. In other words, Lee's elbow is not improving. That gives the Phillies and Lee two options: pitch through pain or have surgery.
Lee attempted to pitch through pain in a bullpen session on Wednesday, and reported having the same discomfort to reporters, including the Inquirer's Jake Kaplan. With no update, one naturally will wonder if Lee is unwilling/unlikely to pitch through pain and is considering surgery that would essentially end his Phillies career, and keep the $27.5 million from vesting. If the option does not vest, Lee would still be due a $12 million buyout from the Phillies.
