No changes in Cliff Lee's rehab plan from elbow injury

Three of the foremost experts on pitchers' arms have examined Cliff Lee's injured left elbow in recent weeks. They all agreed that Lee, who visited Philadelphia on Monday for another doctor's appointment, can follow the original rehab plan.

So Lee will not throw until sometime in November. Nevertheless, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. categorized his confidence in Lee's ability to contribute in 2015 as "high." Skepticism will linger until Lee demonstrates his health next spring.

"He's improved," Amaro said.

Lee is not yet 100 percent cleared to throw, a benchmark the Phillies did not yet expect to reach. He saw team physician Michael Ciccotti, who leads Major League Baseball's study group for elbow injuries, on Monday. That followed appointments with renowned orthopedists James Andrews and David Altchek.

The Phillies will pay Lee $37.5 million next season. His base salary is $25 million, and the buyout for his 2016 vesting option is $12.5 million. Lee will have to pitch 200 innings in 2015 to trigger the 2016 option at $27.5 million.

Lee last pitched July 31. He made just 13 starts in 2014 because of a strained left elbow.

The 36-year-old pitcher was treated with a platelet-rich plasma injection in early August. The Phillies conceded they rushed Lee, who was on the disabled list from May 19 to July 20. He rested for less than a month after the initial injury. This time, the rest period will be three times the original.

Lee, who has spent his downtime at home in Arkansas, was not available for comment.

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