After missing out on the majority of the 2014 season, it seems as if Cliff Lee will be ready to go once Spring Training gets underway. This past Friday, the Phillies reported that Lee was about a week away from throwing off of the mound. Things have been moving a little quicker on that front.
Before the Reading Fightin' Phils winter banquet on Tuesday, Ruben Amaro told Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer that Lee has suffered no setbacks after throwing off of the mound three or four times. If Lee remains healthy and pitches effectively this season, he could become a valuable part of the Phillies trade plans when the deadline approaches in July, perhaps even before that.
"There's plenty of teams out there that need pitching, especially when you talk about top-of-the-rotation left-handers," Amaro said. "They don't fall off trees. I know there are going to be more than one or two contenders out there. … I think we're going to have opportunities, as long as these guys stay healthy. They're going to be pretty attractive pieces." [Phillies.com]
In five seasons overall with the Phillies, including the latter-half of the 2009 season and from 2011-on, Lee is 48-34 in 118 starts with a 2.94 ERA. Ruben Amaro touched briefly on how the 36-year-old southpaw is eager to get back at it.
"I think he's kind of champing at the bit," Amaro said before a winter banquet hosted by the Phillies' double-A Reading affiliate. "I don't think Cliff likes sitting idle and not being able to pitch. I think that's pretty frustrating for him. He likes to compete." [Philly.com Sports]
This season, Lee will make $25 million in base salary. His contract also includes a $12.5 million buyout of the $27.5 million vesting option for the 2016 season that would be brought into effect if Lee pitches 200 innings in 2015.
