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Phillies’ Cliff Lee could be facing career-ending surgery

By Patrick Schmidt

Feb 19, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee (33) during spring training workouts at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee (33) during spring training workouts at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cliff Lee acknowledges his elbow pain could result in surgery which would end this season for the Phillies ace and possibly be a career-ending operation.

The Philadelphia Phillies are hoping Cliff Lee’s elbow pain won’t result in surgery to alleviate the pain he felt during his throwing routine on Friday. If the pain doesn’t subside and rest isn’t the best medicine for the Phillies ace and former Cy Young winner, surgery will be required and it could end his career.

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“It would be 6-8 months out. So basically if I have the surgery this season will be done. Possibly my career I guess. I don’t know. We’ll have to see,” Lee said, via Matt Breen of Philly.com. “Obviously you’re going to take your chances on rest and rehab and that’s what we did. So potentially I’m the three percent that needs surgery and potentially it’s scar tissue breaking up and it’s normal. But I think it’s early to know which one it is.”

Surgery is the worst-case scenario and you can’t fault Lee for pondering life beyond baseball if he is faced with a major reconstructive surgery at the age of 35, but hopefully for he and the Phillies that he will be able to resume his throwing program soon and get his arm strong for the start of the season and avoid a trip to the disabled list to begin the year.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. relayed similar sentiments to Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News about his level of concern, especially when you take into consideration that Lee felt something similar in last year’s injury-shortened season.

“You have to be alarmed, we have to be concerned because it’s the same area and he feels something,” Amaro said. “It’s the same area, the same issues he had last year.”

Lee was limited to 13 starts last season and a 4-5 record with a 3.65 ERA.

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