Free agent lefty Cliff Lee is drawing interest from no fewer than fifteen teams around the league, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports on Twitter. The long-time ace is reportedly preparing to return to the mound in 2016.
It’s certainly not surprising to hear that so many organizations are looking into the southpaw. While he’s 37 and will be looking to make his way back from a flexor tendon tear without surgery, Lee offers unmatched upside among the bounceback candidates on the free agent market.
It’s far from clear, of course, whether teams are willing at present to commit big dollars to Lee. Certainly, they’ll want to learn more about his progress and prognosis. But the report does make clear that there’ll be no shortage of teams lined up to pursue Lee if he shows promise of returning to the form that made him one of the game’s best pitchers well into his mid-30s.
Better not be the red sox
Im a sox fan why dont we want him
Is it cause he is old
Why not the Jays since Lee played for Shapiro & Atkins from 02 to 09 ?
i’d agree to terms for a per start situation. $500k and additional wages to each start over 5.2 innings. otherwise..no thanks
No
99% sure they wouldn’t allow incentives of that specificity. The much more common and MLBPA approved way to do it would be a low-ish base salary (it’s Cliff Lee, low-ish likely starts with $10MM) with bonuses for innings thresholds met over the course of the season (150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200 innings).
Seems like the perfect renovation project for the Pirates.
I forgot he was even a free agent.
I’m pretty sure he retired actually and he just wants to come back
The Phillies declined his option and he hasn’t pitched since 2014 I think. Its just been a while since hes played.
Is he even able to pitch?
Smells like another Braves signing is in the works.
I dont think lee will play for pretender this late in his career as this is likely his last MLB season so hell want to go out a champion
High upside lottery ticket.
Who will give him the most money?
Bet the Dodgers.
Any chance the Phillies are one of those teams? Cliff has already shown that he enjoys pitching in Philly by taking less money to pitch there (albeit in much different circumstances) and he fit’s the bill as a veteran who could pitch on an incentive-based contact that could possibly be flipped at the deadline. Probably wishful thinking, but it’d give Phillies fans a little bit of excitement and would sell some tickets, most fans still absolutely love the guy, myself being one of them.
As a Phillies fan I would love for him to stay in philly, his upside is very high if he comes back healthy and the Phillies would look a lot better with a healthy lee at the top, but it’s unlikely they bring him back, they want to rebuild and I believe have moved on from him
I unfortunately agree, I think they’re trying to distance themselves from the past as much as possible.
I’d sign him to a minor league deal.
I see him and bartolo colon on blue jays rotation for next season so stroman- dickey- colon-lee and maybe jaime moyer as our #5th
Better not be the Jays
Why not the Jays since Lee played for Shapiro & Atkins from 02 to 09? And I don’t know why my first respond got placed up there when I click reply to your post
I’d take him if I were the Jays. Cheapo incentive laden lottery ticket type signing. Probably as much as we can hope for from the new regime.
Perfect project for a smaller market team like the Pirates, Royals, Twins, etc.
15 suckers
Don’t for get the Braves could be perfect vet Braves could use help young pitchers
He just was cleared to start his throwing program.. The Phillies bought out his option for 12.5 millions.. What were they thinking when they agreed to that..
Jamie Moyer and Roy Oswalt both ended their careers with the Rockies. Cliff Lee might as well also.
Cliff would love to play for the Jays and their hitting lineup
How about coming back to the Rangers and this time, we win the whole dam thing!!! What say Cliff??