Cliff Lee is no stranger to trade rumors around this time of year and this year will be no exception. The 35-year old Lee is working his way back from a mild elbow strain and is scheduled to make two more rehab starts before making his reutrn from the disabled list July 19th.
With the Phillies trailing both division and wild card leaders, Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants by 11 games, it's expected they'll listen to offers for many of their veteran players as July 31st approaches
Clubs have told ESPN.com that they expect the Phillies to aggressively attempt to move Lee, who is signed through 2015 and has a minimum of $50 million left on his contract over the next season and a half. That figure could grow to $62.5 million if he vests his option for 2016.
Teams that have spoken with the Phillies say the club has indicated it is willing to eat a significant portion of Lee's salary if it gets the right pieces back in a trade.
Lee's contract might not even be the biggest hurdle in acquiring him from the Phillies, as they are looking for a big haul of young prospects in return.
Few commodities are more sought after at the trade deadline than reliable, veteran starting pitchers, let alone a top of the rotation starter with World Series experience. Lee was a huge difference maker in leading the Texas Rangers to their first World Series in franchise history back in 2010.
Teams such as the Yankess who have lost C.C Sabathia for the rest of the season, and the Detroit Tigers who were interested Lee at the trading deadline last summer could be in the running for Lee once again.
Lee was 4-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 10 starts before going on the disabled list. In the six starts in which he received a loss or a no-decision, the Phillies scored a total of eight runs while he was in the game.
Lee, when healthy, is still capable of leading a rotation down the stretch and should expect to receive plenty of attention as the trading deadline nears.