Will the Phillies find a taker for Cliff Lee?
With the Philadelphia Phillies finally committed to rebuilding their aging, overpaid and declining major league roster, we’ve been left to wonder which former All-Star will be traded next.
General manager Ruben Amaro got the ball rolling when he shipped his longest tenured player, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, to the Los Angeles Dodgers following the winter meetings. Veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd was moved two weeks later in a minor trade with the Cincinnati Reds. However, in the six weeks since, it’s been nothing but speculation surrounding guys like Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon, and perhaps wishful thinking on Amaro’s part when it comes to moving Ryan Howard.
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It all makes for interesting conversation, of course, but one name that’s been noticeably absent from those conversations is former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee. In fact, until Friday, Lee had become a forgotten man among the Phillies potential trade chips. But that could quickly change based on what ESPN’s Jayson Stark is hearing. In one tweet on Friday, Stark made it clear that the Phillies will listen on Lee, while adding that he could be the next guy to go, assuming he proves healthy in spring training.
It’s a big if. Lee was limited to 13 games last season after straining his left elbow on two different occasions. The second injury happened on July 31, just as Lee was rebuilding value for a possible August trade. With that in mind, teams might be wise to wait until late March before seriously considering an offer, or even into April if need or desperation hasn’t overcome them.
Also not very attractive are the financials. Lee, who’s 36, is set to make $25 million in 2015. He has a vesting option for $27.5 million in 2016 if he pitches at least 200 innings. It’s a plateau Lee had reached six years in a row coming into 2014, but wear and tear — and perhaps even caution and common sense — could make it unlikely again this season.
There’s one contract stipulation that looms large as well, and that’s Lee’s no-trade clause that allows him to block deals to twenty teams per season. Knowing now that the Phillies are rebuilding, we’d actually assume this is the least restricting of all factors mentioned, but it’s still there and there are obviously places he’d rather not go.
Working in Philadelphia’s favor is that Lee has been really very good when healthy during his stint there. From 2011-13, he averaged 31 starts per season with a superb 2.80 ERA. As usual, his strikeout-to-walk ratio (667-102) was outstanding, and his home runs (66) allowed were respectable given the ballpark. If nothing else, they’re a good reference point to what his upside could be, and for some teams that upside could be enough.
To pinpoint a team that might be interested though is also a difficult task. The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are reportedly in on James Shields, with the Padres also still kicking around a potential Cole Hamels trade. However, Lee doesn’t seem like a realistic fallback option for either since they’re both looking beyond 2015.
The Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers or Miami Marlins? Maybe, but not right now.
It’s a market that will take some time to develop and some patience to watch bear out. In other words, don’t expect a deal early in spring training even if Lee looks good. However, as injuries occur and needs develop around the league, a healthy looking Lee will become awfully attractive.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
