Indians' Cliff Lee still waiting for word on trade

Cliff Lee read the text messages from friends, but as of 11:15 a.m. he had no idea whether all the reports that the Cleveland Indians had traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies were true.

"I don't know nothing," Lee said. "Rumors, man. I'm going to go play catch before I get traded."

That did not stop one Cleveland official from congratulating Lee thusly: "You just picked up about 30 games in the standings."

Lee, the defending American League Cy Young Award winner, and outfielder Ben Francisco are reportedly headed to the Phillies for four prospects. Francesco was not in the lineup for this afternoon's Indians game in Anaheim.

This would mark the second consecutive year the Indians had traded the defending Cy Young Award winner in July, following last year's trade of C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers.

--Bill Shaikin

Photo: Cliff Lee throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of their baseball game in Toronto on July 21, 2009. Photo credit: The Canadian Press / Darren Calabrese.