Veteran free agent starter Cliff Lee has been cleared by doctors to begin working his way back to the hill, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports on Twitter. Lee has already begun throwing and intends to pitch in 2016 so long as he can find the right opportunity.
There figures to be no shortage of interest in the one-time ace. Clubs pay good money for the right to take risks on injured players all the time, but rarely is there as much upside as comes with Lee.
True, Lee is already 37 years of age and is looking to return after a lengthy rehab from a partially torn flexor tendon. But he’s also thrown at an exceedingly high level as recently as 2014. Though he only put up a 3.65 earned run average in his 81 1/3 innings that year, Lee carried a 6.00 K:BB rate and drew ratings from metrics that valued his effort in the 3.00 earned-per-nine range.
Of course, Lee has also shown much more prior to that season. He racked up over 220 frames per season over 2011 through 2013, working to a cumulative 2.80 ERA in that span while striking out a batter per inning and walking less than one-and-a-half per nine.
It goes without saying that Lee’s past success guarantees nothing moving forward. He might re-injure his arm. Or he might have reduced velocity, movement, and/or command. But even a lesser version of Lee would likely be a productive big league asset, and there’s hope of much more. Assuming he continues on track to throw in 2016, Lee will be a fascinating player to watch on the market.
I guess a minor league deal is out of the question?
if no one else makes a ML offer…..it’s not. I suspect someone will offer a contract with all kinds of incentives and performance bonuses.
If he proves he is indeed healthy, he should pitch for the Phillies for the veterans minimum after taking millions the last season and a half for doing nothing.
wouldnt want him around- he sat at home and collected his money and his buyout. lost a lot of respect for him.
Yeah, doesn’t he know he has another arm he can pitch with if he blew out his pitching elbow. What a bum….. *eye roll*
Yep, because every other injured player refuses his salary
he had basically nothing to do with the team- no real interest in pitching or trying to get healthy.
I have lost all respect for Cliff Lee as he sat out two years and collected 50 million dollars for doing nothing and not even being around the team. He could have stopped by the team and given some leadership to all the young pitchers last year. I thought he was better than this but this will probably be a short lived comeback.
you go hang out at work if you’re hurt or sick, just for moral support of your coworkers?
Not at my minimum wage job but If I was getting paid millions to play baseball, then yes
So you’re telling me if you were paid $25 million dollars to work at McDonalds you’d hang out there if you had an injury or illness but didn’t HAVE to hang out there….. you sir have no life.
2 years? Pretty sure he gave you 13 starts, solid starts at that, in 2014. I think Philly fans are directing their rage at Lee instead of the front office for the miserable team the phillies have been pretty much for the last 4+ years. if they should be upset at anyone for “stealing” money from the team it is Howard. What a joke that guy is.
As for this leadership Philly fans demanded out of Lee. Not everyone is a born leader. Greg Maddux was not a leader. He just didn’t have those skills and is why despite public interest he doesn’t want to become a pitching coach. Zack Greinke is the same way. I myself am the same way. I tell people at work how to do their job all the time and they still mess it up, and i have no response other than thinking they are a special kind of stupid. I mean I told them what to do, what more can I do. It’s why i took a nice office job away from the fools. Not everyone is a born leader….. or they are they just don’t have the patience for it (me). Pretty sure Cliff Lee signed his contract as a pitcher….. not a player-coach. he got injured. What the hell do you expect out of a pitcher with a blown elbow? I think it’s hilarious when fans in general think when a player is hurt they should be in the gym rehabbing 24/7. My Bears fan brethren are the same way and it drives me insane. A few years back Jay Cutler injured his ankle or something along those lines and missed like 3-4 games. During that time he was seen at Blackhawks and Bulls games. Fans would call in sports talk radio shows and be furious saying the same crap Philly fans are saying about Lee. “HE SHOULD BE WITH THE TEAM (apparently 24/7) AND REHABBING HIS ANKLE (again, apparently 24/7 while being with his team at all times)!!!!!!” Apparently there is a large portion of fans across the country who think pro athletes have a responsibility to not have a life outside of their respective sport. They should be doing nothing but rehab and doing the plethora of coaches’ jobs (that the team pays those plethora of coaches to do) while being depressed the whole time they can’t play…. duh. If Lee actively avoided the team because he didn’t want to be there I can’t blame him. I’ve been to Philly once and have no desire to ever go back. Would rather go to Detroit or Cleveland…. two other butt-holes of America cities.
if he can pitch, what difference does it make what he did the last two years? HE WAS INJURED. Nothing he can do about that. He owes the Phillies nothing. The Phils took a risk when they signed him just like the Red Sox have done with David Price. It’s not the players decide what they get, The market does. Lee had the Rangers and Yankees both bidding for him and instead, he choose the Phils who came after Lee…not the other way around. When Cliff was averaging about 14 wins a year for Cleveland, he was making about $350k a year. But that is how the system works and Lee made up for that the last couple years. So it averages out. If he can pitch…..someone will be interested.
Yeah, because if he really wanted the money, he would have signed with the Yankees. I think you’re just upset that the Phillies no longer have a quality pitcher on their team.
He was injured you fools. You Philly fans are acting like he just decided to stop playing and refused to leave his house. He gave you a 2.80 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 9 K/9, and 1.4BB/9 over the first 3 years with the Phillies for only $57.5M over that span, just over $19M/season on average. Then in 2014 he still gave you solid value just over a third of the season. His 3.65 ERA in 2014 (which is still decent BTW) is likely due to the crap playing behind him. His FIP in those 13 starts in 2014 was still a stellar 2.96. He missed just over a season and a half of baseball and Philly fans act like he provided them nothing over the entire life of that contract, when the Phillies TEAM is what provided you nothing over the life of that contract. I’m sure he talked to the Phils before they gave him his option money about wanting to come back in 2016. The front office is who decided to buy him out, not Lee, so don’t be pissed he took $12.5M to not play for them this year…. the organization drew that contract up, not Lee. So quit acting like he gave you zero value over that deal. The first three years he gave you value equivalent to that of a $30M player and he “only” got $19+M AAV, $33M below market value. He was injured the last year and a half collecting about $37.5M while injured. So looking at it that way he actually pretty much lived up to the contract…. maybe getting paid $4-5M too much. But look at what the Red Sox are giving Porcello, $20+M AAV….. so it could be worse. Lee gave the Phillies the 3 best years of his career and in typical fashion Philly fans are acting like…. philly fans and are ungrateful. Worst fans in pro sports. Yet they say nothing about the complete pile of uselessness they are STILL paying crazy money to in Howard. That guy has been robbing the Phillies blind since he inked his current deal. The Phillies have paid Howard $90M since 2012…. 4 seasons. His numbers are laughable over that span. just shy of 1,600 ABs, 433 games, 78 doubles, 71 HRs, 522 Ks, .232 BA, .300 OBP, .721 OPS, and a 97 OPS+. They’ve paid him $1.33M for each HR over the last 4 years. $219,000 for each game played. About $57,000 for each AB. You want to be pissed about them pissing money away, look no further than Howard. He’s going to steal $25M more from them again this year too. But go ahead and keep ragging on Lee. You look super intelligent when doing so.
Typical Philly fan: “He blew out his elbow….. WHAT A CROOK!!” (drool running down chin, deep heavy mouth breathing, wearing “2008 CHAMPS” cheese steak-stained, faded t-shirt)
Dipoto .sign him
I think he’d fit in well on a 1 year deal for Seattle
I agree
What kind of innings can realistically be expected from him in 2016?
haha just what I was thinking.
Best case would probably be about 180.
Playoff push. All star game on. I could see a team incentive contract based on playoff depth. Lee is a very good pitcher when he is healthy. The question is, is he healthy?
I think he could be a great 1 year asset for the cardinals.
{ fan of every team } “i hope { team i am fan of } takes a cheap flyer on him”
I hope the braves take him on a cheap 1 year deal
It might would have been interesting if they hadn’t already signed Bud Norris – vet arm that can start or long relieve, but they could still make a competitive offer. They would want his veteran presence with all these young rookies, similar to Billy Wagner providing leadership to Kimbrel. However, I see money and competitiveness being a hindrance. There’s going to be a few teams like STL that can afford to take a chance without going crazy on one of the FA arms.
I hope the Blue Jays take a cheap flyer on him
I hope the Yankees stay away. We all know how they love over the hill geezers, though.
Wonder if he can be had on an incentive laden 1 year deal. If so, he’d be a good risk for Detroit to help fill out the rotation.
Let Boyd, Fulmer, and Lobstein stay in AAA in case Lee falters
Better idea for a 1 year guaranteed contract:
1. 37 year old Cliff Lee
2. 43 year old Bartolo Colon
Sign both!
Bartolo but going after both ia a good idea.
Interesting people going crazy over Lee. Bartolo at $8MM/1 year is a deal someone should make immediately… but he is largely ignored for more interesting names.
Get something done here Duquette!!
I will take a 1 year flyer on him here in Detroit.
Hmmmm. Sit home and make interest on $millions or get a team to sign you for more $millions make it thru ST and sit on a DL for a year making big bucks. I would announce my intent to pitch, too. He should go pitch in Philadelphia and earn some of those $$ they paid him.
He earned that money with his performance prior to signing the contract
Perfect guy for Oakland to target.
lets go Cardinals lets sign Cliff Lee.
Flyer for the Tigers
I assume he’ll sign with a big market contender with a heavily incentive-laden contract.
Mets should sign both. Colon the swingman as well as pinch hitter and lee to keep a place warm for wheeler when he returns.
Really doubt lee would agree to that as he probably wants a guaranteed rotation spot
scratching my head as a Phillies fan…. I guess he’s looking to steal more money. I wish him well, but … I see this as flushing money down the toliet. All reports from the last two years are that he would never pitch again… do to state of his arm, not desire. a HUGE buyer beware sign comes along with whichever team signs Cliff Lee. I guess he could slop around as your 5th starter for 10mil a year.
let me check the calendar… is it April 1st?
Lmao – not only that… but this is the type of ad that flashes in comment sections on philly fan sites…. cliff lee looking to pitch in 2016… lol, i guess they finally got one right!
every team in the league should be in on him. Huge low risk high reward signing.
could he even pass a physical?
Why not the Royals, they could use a veteran for a young pitching staff, have a leader and a teacher, I think they would benefit
Lee was told that he needed to have surgery if he wanted to continue pitching. He has yet to have that surgery. Until he does he’s not a candidate to pitch.
Atlanta would be best place Atlanta is going trade miller and Teheran and there going to need vet pitch go with they great young arms they all ready have what help make great pitching staff in Atlanta in 91, 92 , was good vet left pitcher (Charlie Leibrant that help show glavine how pitch in up and down of a starter season lee would be like Leibrant and help mold the 2015 young staff . That was missing last season that vet that young staff good go to and pic. His mind on how he could help them learn from . Roger McDowell is one of best pitching coaches in the game but he wasn’t starter . And staring is a different mind set then relieving is . So haveing vet pitch that help wisler Perez miller Teheran foltz. Simms Jenkins weber banuelos hursh fried can only help these young pitchers , great part we have more great young arms coming no one baseball have a so many great arms coming up in future . Rather any body on hear or in front off like it great young controllable arms are harder find the good young hitters . Ex special with face so many pitches today break down most with at least 1 Tj or shoulder injuries . ( speed gun is over rated and fact that pitch counts are so much watched and pitchers not aloud to build up arm strength has lead to so many Tj. An way $ keeps going up for good arm to great durable arm it just going to go up and find these arm so team going to spend more to get them. And the team ( fo) that figure these faster will get best bet for there buck. So for people on her and to front off that don’t get pitches like miller theran( before none Braves fan talk about theran number for last year you need take time look past the# and find out the truth what has lead to number be so bad last year it wasn’t rader it was because the 1st 4 months season Theran was throwing a two seamer not his 4 seamer . And his two seamer as strait and had no movement (pitching not throwing) In late July he went back to throwing his 4 seamer and it had a lot more moving and number got better and it worked better with his change up. So look for for you speech . Pitcher like salzar Carrasco archer Moore smyly Quintana gray Fernandez Ross name that be talked about trade this off season have be talk about more then young hitter being talk about .because team know it harder to find great young controllable Arm then hitters . And though that home run hitter just thing of the past ( sorry not ) it fad. Team in year or so will reliaze ops which is good but at end of day you still need a guy who can hit a three run home run I. Late ings. Is more important the. Guy who can take a walk or not single or double. Not saying though guy don’t have place in game but ops I just a stat just like war but should be the holly grell like every stat geek thing today. And that there reason 7 of top 12 biggest contracts in baseball right now are pitches
Cliff Lee, “Have a Left Arm, Seeking Millions, Will Travel.”
Sounds like a perfect candidate for the Royals…..
Without getting into his character or leadership (lack thereof?) in Philly, I’d like to point out that Johan Santana came back from an injury that is basically guaranteed to end a career to throw a no hitter. Nothing wrong with Lee trying, I’m sure somebody will take a flier on him for an incentive-rich contract.
Pirates or Cubs maybe? We’ve seen how Pittsburgh loves reclamation projects and how they’ve had success with Burnett and Liriano, so why not?
I hope that Ariona Diamondbacks take a cheap flyer on him.
Advice to all these young blood General Managers on Cliffy: Keep the risk low because the reward is likely to be the same. I expect he will make it through spring training, pitch 3 or 4 games in April, then go on the DL with a torn flexor tendon. The team that signs him will then pay him the rest of the year to have his long-postponed TJ surgery and the first part of his rehab, after which some other team will sign him to rehab in the first part of 2017 and then maybe pitch later that year.
I bet Friedman’s eyes lit up when he heard this news.
Whatever team he joins, if he’s still got it, he ought not to start pitching until June or July.
The next AJ Burnett, as a veteran presence to supplement Cole and Liriano to fill out the top of the rotation? I think so. Pirates.. Sign this guy.
The Pirates would be making a bad decision signing him as he is a shadow of his former self.
Yeah… Not entirely true. Easy for you to say being a bitter Phillies fan. The only thing that has a shadow casting over it is the pathetic franchise that plays baseball in philly.
I’m not a Phillies or a Pirates fan but I’m gonna say that the Pirates fans shouldn’t be throwing stones at the Phillies when it comes to pathetic franchises. Phillies have a World Series in recent memory and the Pirates are barely removed from years of not having a winning record or playoff birth.
I’m gonna guess this is gonna be more of “at least 20 teams have checked in.”
As far as mutual success goes though, the pirates, cards, and royals seem like great fits
He has about as much chance of being a productive pitcher again as I do of being a productive lawyer again in this economy. That’s zero, just to be clear.
Lee’s chances much better than yours.
When I read this article I truly believe there is a sucker born every minute
if ryan madson can return like he did, why not lee? its not like its been 2+ seasons since he was productive or active
He will get a one year offer closer to when spring training starts up. He will likely sign with teams like Cleveland for a major league deal or a minor league deal with a Contender with an opt out clause before the season starts/in june
Ideal low-risk, high-reward for any team if the price is right.
Excellent get for someone.
Cliff Lee 2016 Comeback Player of the Year
I said it in another thread, and I’ll say it again. Red Sox, make this deal! Low risk / high reward if it pays off.
You know what they say… No bad one year deals. I’d like to see the cardinals to take a flyer and hope he can return close to form. Pirates or Royals seem like the kind of teams to make these deals. Pirates have had great success recently returning pitchers to form though I’m not sure the injury history of those guys. Miss the days the cardinals took a flyer on these kind of guys but up until this year there hasn’t been a spot. But with Lynn down, lackey out(wainwright back in obviously, uncertainty of Carlos Martinez arm, and top pitching prospect suspended for marijuana id like a couple short term deals to try to bridge the gap
come to san diego & bring Utley and Rollins with you
Cubs have a pretty good record of getting the most out of guys like this also. 1 year deal with incentives should probably get it done no matter who signs him. I could also see someone sign him with the intention to flip him mid season if he pitches well.
How much do you think he’d cost? Other former top of the rotation arms coming off disappointing 2015 seasons who are predicted to sign one year deals like Latos and Fister are predicted to sign for $12 and $10M respectively. Is that about right for the MUCH older, but POSSIBLY better Lee? Or do you think a bit more, like a 1 year $14M deal??? Or are all 3 considered too much for a guy who hasn’t pitched in a year and a half?