Skip to content
Phillies
Link copied to clipboard

Injury updates on Mike Adams, Cliff Lee and Cody Asche

Both Mike Adams and Cliff Lee are far from returning to the Phillies, but there is some progress.

There is no damage to Mike Adams' rotator cuff, and that offered relief to the 35-year-old righthander. Still, Adams will require a cortisone injection later this weekend in an effort to strengthen the area around his labrum, which is fraying, according to an MRI examination.

"It was a lot better than I expected," Adams said.

Adams will not throw for at least 10 days. He is likely to miss about a month's time if everything breaks right. His last appearance was June 6. That could leave a small window for rival teams to evaluate Adams, who had a 2.12 ERA before his injury.

His history of shoulder problems, though, could lessen any return in a trade.

>>> Amother possible trade asset is Cliff Lee, who is "very close to picking up a ball," manager Ryne Sandberg said. Lee has not thrown since May 19 because of a strained left elbow. He could need up a month for a throwing program and rehab games before he is ready.

Again, that would allow Lee to make a handful of starts prior to the July 31 trade deadline.

>>> Third baseman Cody Asche (left hamstring strain) is playing in simulated games in Clearwater, Fla. He could start a rehab assignment on Friday, so he is no closer than a week from his return. Sandberg is not sure how many games Asche will require.

Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.