Say hey, baseball: Let’s talk Cliff Lee trade rumors

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Cliff Lee’s 2014 ended when his elbow decided it was over. While Lee has almost been a perfect picture of health since becoming an ace back in 2008 -- he averaged 222 innings per year and a 140 ERA+ from 2008 through 2013 -- last summer he dealt with forearm and elbow strains that pushed him to the 60-day disabled list on two separate occasions. That’s what made Thursday’s spring training debut such a big deal for Lee, as he hadn’t pitched since July 31 when he lasted just 2-2/3 innings before he was lifted to get an elbow MRI. He was his typical sharp self and there were no elbow problems to report, which means we can start to talk about the next important date on Lee’s schedule: the one in which he’s traded to a contender.

The Phillies have been trying to trade Cole Hamels since before last year’s deadline, and haven’t been able to. They aren’t asking for an outrageous return, but no one wants to give them a fair one, hoping to catch the Phils in a moment of desperation. A healthy Lee is an alternative move for the Phillies, as they could get back a prospect package that isn’t headlined by a top-level prospect -- aka the thing that is keeping them from dealing Hamels. Lee might be the better pitcher of the two, but he’s also under contract for just one more year, has a $27.5 million vesting option for 2016, and a $12.5 million buyout on that option. The Phillies can afford to wait to deal Hamels because he’s younger, healthier, and has four years and an option left on his own deal. Lee isn’t a ticking time bomb, but with far less contract length and an elbow injury still in his rearview, the Phillies can’t wait forever or they risk getting nothing and not having Lee going forward.

The Red Sox should be in on Lee over Hamels so they can keep Blake Swihart and Mookie Betts, and reportedly, that’s precisely what they’re quietly investigating now. The Rangers and Padres both asked about Lee earlier this offseason, and the Padres have the money for Lee considering their failed $25 million bid ($50 million when you consider the overage penalty) on Yoan Moncada. Lee will still costs prospects, but we’re talking about the Garin Cecchinis and Matt Wislers of the world in return for him, not prospects who some consider to be future stars. Almost everyone in baseball should have someone the Phillies are interested in as a return for Lee (though not everyone can afford the salary), so when he’s gotten through a few more spring starts unscathed, expect rumors to pick up.

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