Free agent pitcher Cliff Lee likely to retire from playing in the Major Leagues

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Former Cleveland Indians left handed starting pitcher Cliff Lee, 37, is likely to retire from pitching in the Major Leagues after he was not able to find another team that is either a playoff contender or willing to pay him his market value salary of $6-$8 million dollars plus incentives during the 2016 baseball season. Lee last pitched in the Major Leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014. An injury to left elbow limited his pitching in 13 games. Due to the severity of his elbow injury, Lee did not pitch in any games for the Phillies during the 2015 baseball season. The Phillies declined to pick up his $27.5 million dollar contract to pitch for their team in 2016 but they did buy out his contract to enter the free agent market for $12.5 million dollars. Lee's agent Darek Braunecker told Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal on Tuesday since his client has not been able to find a team that needs his services for the right price, Lee is likely to end his career in the Major Leagues after 13 seasons pitching for the Cleveland Indians from 2002-2009, the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009, Seattle Mariners in 2010, Texas Rangers in 2010 and the Phillies from 2011-2014. Lee has a pitching record of 143 wins and 91 losses with an earned run average of 3.52. Even though he has not officially announced his retirement, it is possible that baseball fans have seen the last of the left handed starting pitcher who was a member of the Phillies 2009 World Series team that lost to the New York Yankees in six games in a best of seven series format.