Philadelphia Phillies decline 2016 option on Cliff Lee

The Philadelphia Phillies have declined the 2016 team option on the contract of starting pitcher Cliff Lee, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.

As Zolecki notes, the move is hardly shocking. The 37-year-old Lee was due to make $27.5 million next season. Instead, he will receive a cool $12.5 million buyout.

Lee missed the entire 2015 campaign after tearing his left flexor tendon during Spring Training. Health issues have been a persistent obstacle for the left-hander over the past couple years. He was limited to just 13 starts in 2014 due to an elbow strain.

Despite the recent injury trouble, Lee has been one of the better starters in baseball over the last decade. He won the Cy Young in 2008 as a member of the Cleveland Indians, collecting a league-leading 22 victories to the tune of a 2.54 ERA.

Lee first joined the Phils midway through the 2009 season via trade. He helped his new club capture a second straight National League pennant, going 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts. He was dealt to the Mariners the following offseason but would return to Philadelphia as a free agent prior to the 2011 campaign, inking a five-year, $120 million pact.

The Phillies surely expected to solidify their status as perennial championship contenders after bringing Lee back into the fold, but that never quite materialized. Recent injuries aside, it’s hard to say that Lee didn’t do his part, managing a 2.94 ERA in 118 total outings for Philadelphia.

Lee’s immediate future is not exactly clear. After news broke of his torn flexor back in March, many wondered whether his career could be over, particularly in light of the fact that he elected rehab over surgery.

Should Lee want to give it another go, he’ll likely have suitors. More than a few teams would probably be interested in taking a flyer on a cheap one-year deal in hopes that he might rediscover some of his vintage form.

If this is in fact the end of the road for Cliff Lee, he can certainly look back on a stellar career. If not, it should be interesting see where his next chapter takes him.

Next: Tigers decline option on Joe Nathan

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