As Wednesday's trade deadline rapidly approaches, many teams in need of another arm are looking into making a trade for Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee, according to reports.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. wouldn't specify what teams have interest in Lee or what they're offering, but he said he's keeping an "open mind" regarding shipping players off to other teams.
The Phillies sit eight games behind the first place Washington Nationals in the National League East and their 49-53 overall record strands them 9.5 games back from a wildcard spot, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see them as sellers at the deadline. The Phillies have lost five straight games on their current road trip, so Amaro is open to listen.
"I never put any real absolutes on anything," Amaro said by phone to ESPN Friday. "Although we don't have any desire to move a guy like that because we view him as someone who will be key to our future, I am a businessperson as well and I'll be a good listener."
Amaro has stated that while he may not trade any big-name players, he is willing to open his ears should a compelling offer come his way.
"I can't sit here and say I'm not going to trade Chase (Utley), or Cliff, or Michael Young or Chooch (Carlos Ruiz), or any of these guys," he said per ESPN. "Some guys are less tradable than others. But I think I owe it to us as an organization to listen."
The Phillies were an NL East powerhouse, winning five straight division crowns between 2007-11 and appeared in the World Series in 2008 and 2009, winning it all in '08. However, they failed to win the division for the first time in five years last season and missed out on the playoffs, and appear to be heading down a similar path in 2013.
Lee will join a starting pitching market headed by Jake Peavy, Ervin Santana and Bud Norris, but his contract situation may make it difficult for another team to go after him. Lee will make $25 million in each season until 2015 and has a $27.5 million team option for 2016 with a $12.5 million buyout. Lee signed a five year, $120 million contract with the Phillies back in December of 2010.
Lee is 10-4 with a 3.05 ERA with 131 strikeouts this season. Lee, 34, won the NL Cy Young Award in 2008 and made his fourth all-star appearance this season.
It remains to be seen where Lee could land if he does move, but reports indicate the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers are all in the market for starting pitching.
Whether anyone will take on that contract and woo Amaro into making a move remains to be seen.
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