Just two days after it was reported Cliff Lee was experiencing renewed elbow soreness, news broke Tuesday that the left-hander has a tear in his flexor tendon, which could require surgery. With him likely out of trade discussions, is Cole Hamels going to be dealt in the near future?
According to FOX Sports' Jon Morosi, an MRI confirmed Lee has a small tear in the common flexor tendon of his throwing arm and he will try to resume throwing, although it seems like a long shot. The 36-year-old is owed $25 million in 2015 and has a $27.5 million vesting option for 2016 that kicks in if he throws 200 innings in 2015 and also doesn't land on the disabled list with elbow/shoulder injuries.
It surely looks like his option won't vest, and if he needs surgery it's likely his career will be over.
Lee was making a comeback from a flexor pronator strain that limited him to 13 starts last season. If he proved his health in spring training and at the beginning of the year it was believed he would be a good trade chip for the Philadelphia Phillies. But now that they can pretty much throw that option out the window, the trade talks for Hamels are likely to heat up.
In fact, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro hinted at the fact that discussions involving Hamels were alive as of late, specifically in "the last couple of days."
"I know there are teams interested," he told Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly. "There's been one club, I guess, that's stepped up and has shown more particular interest. But there's teams that have been interested and will continue to be so ... We're keeping an open mind. We're open-minded on everything. The transition, the rebuild, all that stuff, doesn't stop on February 25. It's going to continue."
That "one club" is believed to be the New York Yankees, who have been said to be the "closest" in landing Hamels after offering the Phillies a package of prospects that set the foundation for ongoing talks. However, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports enumerates a number of reasons why the Yankees were not, and still aren't close to landing Hamels, including player compensation and New York's payroll situation.
On the other hand, Matt Silverman of The Boston Herald believes the Red Sox gained leverage in trade talks for Hamels because of Lee's injury. Boston has been in talks with the Phillies since last July about a trade for Hamels, but nothing has come to fruition after countless exchanged offers and discussions.
"The Lee news has boxed the Phillies into an even tighter corner. Philadelphia desperately needs to restock its minor league system with a return bonanza for Hamels, but the clock is also ticking on the Phillies having to make any deal before they risk rolling craps on him as well in case he becomes sidelined," he writes.
But the news of Lee also affects the status of the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, who could be in for some trouble regarding their starting rotation in 2015. Both clubs are set to contend in 2015, but the Cardinals are dealing with injuries to Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha and Lance Lynn, while the Rangers may lose Yu Darvish for the season if he opts for Tommy John surgery.
Now that nearly every time in this situation appears to be somewhat desperate, it wouldn't be surprising if Hamels was traded before Opening Day.
