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Lee Could Avoid Surgery, But Season’s Over

Report From Philadelphia Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — It is not a surprise, but Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee‘s season is finished.

Lee’s locker inside the Phillies’ clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park had been completely cleared out before Wednesday’s game against the Astros. He is on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 2 flexor pronator strain, and he is going to rest at home in Arkansas for about two weeks before rejoining the team early next month for a reevaluation.

On Wednesday, Lee visited orthopedist David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Altchek confirmed the Phillies’ diagnosis of Lee’s injury, which said no surgery is required. Following Altchek’s examination, Lee returned to Philadelphia to visit the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia for a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the elbow.

Cliff Lee struggled in both full starts after his return from the DL with an elbow injury, then pulled himself from a game with an aggravation to the injury. Photo credit - Philly.com

Cliff Lee struggled in both full starts after his return from the DL with an elbow injury, then pulled himself from a game with an aggravation to the injury. Photo credit – Philly.com

“We hope to get him into a throwing program in October or November,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a telephone call late Wednesday night. “But right now he needs to rest.”

Amaro is hopeful Lee, who sustained a recurrence of the injury last Thursday in Washington, will be ready to go by Spring Training in 2015. Lee is owed at least $37.5 million following this season, which includes his $25 million salary for 2015, plus a $12.5 million buyout on a 2016 club option.

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