Dodgers, Phillies Talking Cliff Lee Deal After Waiver Claim

Every year, a report leaks about a big name getting put on waivers after the trade deadline, and every year there's a rush to remind people this sort of thing happens regularly. It's just procedure. The Dodgers claimed Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee off waivers. They'll discuss a possible trade, nothing will happen, and that will be that.

Unless ...

For one, it has to be awfully tempting for the Phillies to absolve themselves of the Lee deal. Lee is still owed just over $90 million dollars over the next three seasons, with a vesting option in 2016 if he throws more than 200 innings in 2015 or 400 innings between 2014 and 2015. That's a lot of money for a team that has serious financial commitments on the roster.

Still, it seems more likely they'd want to keep Lee, even if only from a public-relations standpoint.

On the other hand, the Dodgers are on record as wanting to make a big splash, and they could decided this is the way to do it. They might be interested in offering a prospect-heavy package the Phillies couldn't say no to.

Probably not.

But maybe!

If you thought the fun was over at the trade deadline, you weren't expecting that one last rumor. Here you go.

Phillies' Cliff Lee Claimed On Waivers

The veteran Phillies lefty has been claimed. That could mean something, nothing, or everything for him and the team.