Cliff Lee is back and throwing off of a mound for the first time this year.  According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Lee has thrown 3-4 times off of the mound and should be good to go for Spring Training. Lee was limited to 13 starts in 2014 with a flexor pronator strain in his pitching elbow. He is not experiencing pain while throwing.

Fantasy Impact

For fantasy purposes, Lee should be a solid addition to any rotation, especially if you could get him later than the sixth round. But the bigger impact is in his trade value. The Phillies are looking to move Lee by the trade deadline and, if he is healthy and pitching well, he should be moved to a playoff contender. This would be a huge factor for fantasy owners as Lee’s 3.11 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 6.96 K:BB ratio have only led to a 24-22 record over the past three seasons for Phillies teams with a combined .467  winning percentage. Since his Cy Young season of 2008, Lee has a 2.93 ERA and a 6.1 K:BB ratio, pitching 200 or more innings each season other than 2014. If healthy, there is every indication that Lee can be a stable force in any fantasy rotation. In the circumstance that Lee does have a setback, look for Jonathan Pettibone or Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez to open the 2015 season in Philadelphia’s rotation.