There probably has never been a more mythical figure in Texas Rangers history that spent so little time in the organization as Cliff Lee.
The former ace pitcher was acquired via trade in July 2010 in what Rangers GM Jon Daniels saw as that one move to put the Rangers over the top, giving them a legit No. 1 pitcher to win series in the postseason for a team that, at that point, had never won one.
Lee pitched here for four months, including a brilliant postseason run that saw him go 2-0 in a five-game ALDS win over Tampa Bay, including a complete-game victory in Game 5, then go 1-0 in the ALCS win over the Yankees to propel the Rangers to their first World Series in franchise history. Of course, he was forgettable in the Rangers' five-game loss to the Giants, but he was still a hero here for four months before leaving to go back to Philadelphia in free agency.
Now, it appears, Lee is contemplating retirement after he'd made it known he wanted to pitch again in 2016 after sitting out the 2015 season resting a torn flexor tendon. But so far, no team has bitten and signed the veteran lefty.
Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal said Lee's agent has told him Lee doesn't "anticipate playing at this point."
It's a sad way for a former titan of the game to go out, and if he does indeed call it a career it'd be nice to see the Rangers honor him in some way at Globe Life Park for what was a short, but sweet tenure with the club.
