Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee could find himself in the American League East by the time the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline rolls around.
The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays scouted the left-handed ace at his rehab start this weekend, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reported Monday. Lee has not pitched in a Major League game since May 18, when he was placed on the disabled list with an elbow injury.
Philadelphia, which sits in last place in the National League East, could be looking to rebuild and unload veteran contracts. Lee is owed $37.5 million over the next two seasons.
Lee is almost 36 years old, but when healthy, he is one of the top left handed pitchers in the game. He finished sixth in the NL CY Young voting a season ago, posting a 2.87 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP in 222 2/3 innings.
With Masahiro Tanaka joining pitcher CC Sabathia on the DL earlier this month, the Yankees have a desperate need of starting pitching. Toronto, which has one of the top offenses in the league, ranks 24th out of 30 teams in team ERA.
Even if Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price gets dealt, there could be another vaunted lefty in the AL East.
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