Report: Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee won't need surgery on injured elbow
Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee won't need surgery for a Grade 2 left flexor pronator strain that sent him to the 15-day disabled list last week. The four-time All-Star got the news during a visit on Wednesday with an orthopedic surgeon in New York, according to MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki.
The former Cy Young winner, who turns 36 at the end of August, will rest at home in Arkansas for the next two weeks and the plan is to have him rejoin the team in September for a re-evaluation. Following his trip to New York on Wednesday, he returned to Philadelphia for a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his elbow.
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Phillies general manager Ruben AmaroJr. said in a phone call late Wednesday night with Zolecki that Lee will start throwing again in the offseason:
“We hope to get him into a throwing program in October or November. But right now he needs to rest.”
The expectation is that Lee will be ready to participate in spring training next year. He is owed at least $37.5 million after this season, which includes $25 million for next year plus at least $12.5 million the following year if Philadelphia decides to buy him out using a 2016 club option.
- Marc Weinreich
