Cliff Lee back to Cleveland? His contract leaves the option open
Cliff Lee has been a hot name linked to recent trade rumors with the July 31 non-waiver deadline growing closer. The Phillies lefty could be moved to a team looking for rotation help.
As many as eleven teams sent scouts to Citizens Bank Park on Monday to watch Lee's return to the mound after a two-month stint on the disabled list, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.
"The Tigers, Pirates, Orioles, Mariners, Angels, Royals, Blue Jays and Giants -- contenders all -- were among a dozen teams that had scouts at Monday's game," Crasnick writes.
While the Cleveland Indians weren't among the teams that were reportedly in attendance on Monday, there is a shred of good news when it comes to Lee and his former team.
The Indians are one of nine teams that the Phillies can deal Lee to without the consent of the 35-year-old lefty. In addition to the Tribe, the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals are all teams that Lee cannot block a trade with.
With most of those teams out of contention, the Braves and Indians seem to be the two most likely spots for him to land on the list of destinations that he has already approved.
While it's been reported that the Phillies would be willing to absorb a large amount of Lee's contract in a deadline deal, he's still owed $25 million this year and $25 million in 2015 with a vesting option worth $27.5 million in 2016.
The big question is whether or not the Indians would be willing to deal with the Phillies again, especially considering what they received when they traded Lee to Philadelphia in 2009.
(H/T The Star Ledger)
