On Monday afternoon, the Phillies announced what we all knew was coming at one point or another. In an official team release, Cliff Lee has officially been placed on the 60-day disabled list. At this point, they are opting not to go with surgery, but rather to rely on rehab yet again in hopes of Lee pitching again this season. Here's what the release reads:
The Philadelphia Phillies have placed Cliff Lee on the 60-day disabled list with a left forearm strain. This is the same injury that disabled Cliff twice in 2014. Cliff hs not attempted to twice rehabilitate this injury without having surgery. While surgery has now been recommended, it would effectively put an end to his 2015 season as the rehabilitation from the surgery would run through the end of the season.
As a result, the Phillies and Cliff have mutually decided to try once again to rehabilitate the injury non-operatively, with the hope that Cliff might be able to return to pitch during the 2015 season. Cliff will immediately be shut down from throwing. He will be sent home to rest and will be set up with a rehabilitation program to maintain his overall conditioning. He will be brought to Philadelphia periodically to be evaluated to determine a time at which he might be able to begin a throwing program again.
This news is not good. As the release explains, Lee has already tried twice to rehab from this injury and has failed to do so. Why the Phillies and Cliff think the third time will be a charm is a confusing subject, considering the aging arm that Lee has. His situation is very familiar to that of Roy Halladay, who experienced elbow issues towards the end of his career. At this point, it would be highly unlikely to see Cliff pitch again, effectively, in a Phillies uniform.
This injury limited Lee to just 13 starts last season.
Lee and the Phillies held an impromptu press conference Monday afternoon to discuss the situation.
Lee said surgery remains an option if this rehab doesn't work. Says he'd still have time to have surgery, return in 2016.
— Ryan Lawrence (@ryanlawrence21) March 16, 2015
Cliff Lee: "Part of you wants to keep pitching until (the tendon) snaps." But he realizes the other obvious health risks w/that. #Phillies
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) March 16, 2015
Cliff Lee hadn’t played catch last 2 days. The discomfort in his elbow "basically steadily worsened a little bit each day,” he said.
— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) March 16, 2015
Amaro said there are no plans to go outside the organization to add starting pitcher depth & Lee will be replaced from within org. #Phillies
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) March 16, 2015
Internal pitching options include Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Kevin Slowey, Paul Clemens and Joely Rodriguez.
