Phillies decline Cliff Lee's 2016 option, pay $12.5M buyout

WPVI

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee speaks to members of the media about his elbow injury after the Phillies spring training baseball game in Clearwater, Fla., Monday, (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Phillies have declined pitcher Cliff Lee's $27.5 option for 2016.

They are instead paying him a $12.5-million buyout.

This makes the 37-year-old Lee a free agent.

The Phillies declined Cliff Lee's $27.5M option. He will officially become a free agent after missing all of 2015. pic.twitter.com/EdCMlpuA5d
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) November 3, 2015

The 2008 Cy Young Award winner missed all of 2015 after tearing a flexor tendon in spring training.

Lee started only 13 games in the 2014 season due to the elbow strain.

His record is 143-91 with a 3.52 ERA in 13 seasons.