Cliff Lee hasn’t pitched since the end of July 2014 due to a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow and sat out all last year recovering. His contract ended when the Phillies bought out his 2016 option. In the last month or so word has been that Lee was at least tentatively looking to come back, though it was reported that it would have to be a perfect fit.
Sadly, but not surprisingly, it appears that perfect fit did not present itself. Ken Rosenthal reports that Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, told him, “We don’t anticipate him playing at this point.” Which almost certainly means the end of Cliff Lee’s playing career.
Lee ends his career with a record of 143-91 and a 3.52 ERA (ERA+ of 118) in 2,156.2 innings across 13 seasons. A masterful control pitcher, his K/BB ratio stands at 1,824 to 464. He led the league in the lowest number of walks per nine innings four times in his career. He won the 2008 Cy Young Award while pitching for the Indians and finished in the top 10 in Cy Young voting on four other occasions. He was also a fantastic postseason pitcher, going 7-3 with a 2.52 ERA in 11 postseason starts.
A nice career for Lee. So sad to see it end so soon.
