Lee signed a minor-league contract with the Rockies on Feb. 9.
A first-round pick of the Dodgers in 2010, Lee reached the big leagues for the first time in 2015, making one start for Los Angeles. Since then, the 30-year-old right-hander's only MLB action came with the Padres in 2017, when he made three appearances (one start) and covered eight innings. Lee split time between the Reds and Diamondbacks organizations this past season, pitching for two Triple-A teams and amassing a 6.25 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 80.2 innings. He'll likely serve as a swingman for the Triple-A Albuquerque pitching staff in 2022.
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Athletics' Zach Lee: Inks deal with Athletics
Rotowire
Lee signed a minor-league contract with Oakland on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training.
Lee spent the 2019 season in the Mets' farm system, making 12 starts for Triple-A Syracuse. He posted a 6.99 ERA and 1.85 WHIP to go along with a 63:27 K:BB over 74.2 innings.
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Mets' Zach Lee: Latches on with Mets
Rotowire
Lee signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of FancredSports.com reports.
Lee split time between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham in 2018, posting a 2.31 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 74 innings (12 starts, one relief appearance) with the Biscuits but struggling to a 5.02 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 71.2 innings (13 starts) with the Bulls. Given his struggles at Triple-A and the majors, Lee doesn't project as anything more than organizational pitching depth in 2019.
The Padres released Lee on Monday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Lee is still only 25 years old, but most of the luster he once carried as a prospect coming up through the Dodgers' system has completely worn off. He had already been dropped from the Padres' 40-man roster in June, but passed through waivers unclaimed and stuck around in the organization as starting depth at Triple-A El Paso. Even in that capacity, Lee didn't do enough to justify keeping him around, as he's compiled a 7.12 ERA and 1.84 WHIP across 67 innings for El Paso, horrific numbers even after adjusting for the hitter-friendly environments where he's often pitched. Lee shouldn't have trouble landing another minor-league deal given his pedigree, but there won't be much excitement regarding his future outlook.
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Padres' Zach Lee: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Lee cleared waivers Thursday and will head to Triple-A El Paso, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Lee was DFA'd by the team Monday in order to make room for Dillon Overton on the roster following his struggles this season. With El Paso, Lee has posted a 5.73 ERA with a 2.05 WHIP and a 14:15 K:BB. He made three appearances with the Padres, all coming in April, and will provide organizational depth moving forward.
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Padres' Zach Lee: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Lee was designated for assignment by the Padres on Monday.
The Padres needed to clear a roster spot for Dillon Overton -- who was recently claimed off waivers from the Mariners -- and Lee was the roster casualty. The 25-year-old, who compiled a 5.62 ERA and 2.00 WHIP across eight innings with the big club earlier in the year, will likely report to Triple-A if he passes through waivers untouched.
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Padres' Zach Lee: Struggles in return from DL
Rotowire
Lee allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk during Friday's 14-12 win over Triple-A Fresno.
Though he wasn't sharp in his return from the disabled list, Lee was able to escape with a no-decision as El Paso's offense collected 14 hits en route to a 14-run outburst. Lee is sitting on an uninspiring 6.05 ERA over 19.1 innings with Triple-A El Paso this season, but remains a candidate to return to the majors should an injury open up a spot in the rotation or bullpen.
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Padres' Zach Lee: Returns to minors
Rotowire
Lee was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Lee was promoted to the majors in early April to fill Luis Perdomo's spot in the rotation after he was placed on the 10-day disabled list. With Perdomo making his return Sunday, Lee was optioned back to Triple-A. He's a candidate to return to the majors in the future if another injury occurs to one of the team's starters, as the 25-year-old held his own in a difficult matchup with the Rockies at Coors Field on April 12.
Padres' Zach Lee: To start Wednesday against Colorado
Rotowire
Lee will be the starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
With expected starter Luis Perdomo having been placed on the 10-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation Tuesday, the recently promoted Lee will step in and make his second major-league appearance. Though it's an exciting opportunity for the 25-year-old, making your second MLB start in Coors Field is an extremely tough test. It's safe to say that he will not be an attractive fantasy option Wednesday.
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Padres' Zach Lee: Curiously effective at Coors
Rotowire
Lee (1-0) held the Rockies scoreless over 5.1 innings in Coors Field on Wednesday, giving up just two hits along with four walks while striking out three in a 6-0 win.
You won't often see the Rockies get shut out at home, so there are probably a lot of fantasy owners taking an appraising look at Lee right now. Once considered a top prospect for the Dodgers, Lee's now on his third organization; he spent some time with Seattle's Triple-A team last year. As remarkable as it is to frustrate Colorado as Lee did in this one, we're talking about a guy coming off a 6.14 ERA and 6.5 K/9 over 148 innings in the minors last year. He has a rotation spot for now while other guys are injured, but Lee's no post-hype sleeper.
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Padres' Zach Lee: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Lee was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
It is presumed that Lee has been recalled in order to fill Trevor Cahill's spot in the rotation after he was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday. It's possible that the Padres select a different pitcher (such as Jarred Cosart) to replace Cahill, but no updates have been provided on that front as of now. Lee posted an ugly 7.39 ERA in 14 starts with Triple-A El Paso in 2016.
Lee was passed over for spots in both San Diego's rotation and its bullpen. A first-round pick of the Dodgers in 2010, Lee was a compelling post-hype sleeper for the Padres in camp, but he was unable to do enough in his five spring innings to convince the Padres he deserved a major league spot. He had an option remaining, so Lee will have a chance to work his way back to the majors by performing well at El Paso.
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Padres' Zach Lee: Vying for bullpen role
Rotowire
Lee is no longer considered a starting rotation candidate and would have to make the Opening Day roster as a long reliever, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The Padres claimed the 25-year-old off of waivers this offseason, and he entered camp as a possible candidate to make the rotation. With three spots already filled, and the competition for the final two spots narrowed down the five pitchers, Lee is on the outside looking in. The 2010 first-round pick will now compete for a bullpen spot in the final weeks of spring training, eliminating any deep league fantasy value he may have had as a potential starter.
Padres' Zach Lee: Will compete for roster spot, minors likely
Rotowire
Lee is one of several arms competing for a rotation spot this spring, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The former first-round pick is looking to revive his career in San Diego after failing to pan out with either the Dodgers or the Mariners. While the competition is wide open for several rotation spots, Lee seems destined for Triple-A El Paso to see if he can re-establish himself as a viable prospect.
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Mariners' Zach Lee: Claimed by Padres
Rotowire
Lee was claimed off waivers by the Padres on Tuesday.
The former top prospect in the Dodgers system finally appears poised to get a long look in a MLB rotation. He was designated for assignment by the Mariners earlier this month, but the Padres have the worst big league rotation depth in recent history, so Lee should have no problem getting at least a handful of starts. Of course, there is a reason he was available on waivers. Lee posted a 6.14 ERA in 27 Triple-A starts across stops with the Mariners and Dodgers last year, and he has registered below average strikeout rates every year since 2013, making him a low-upside option in NL-only formats.
