By Fitzgerald Cecilio

The Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly working on a trade that will bring starting pitcher Cliff Lee back to Texas.

A source told espn.com that the Phillies are looking for a significant package in exchange for Lee. "It's not going to be cheap," the source said.

The source added Rangers prospect Mike Olt has been mentioned as a possible centerpiece to the trade. He currently leads the Texas League in home runs with 22.

Releasing Olt would deal a serious blow to the Rangers system as they are molding him to replace Adrian Beltre at third base.

Lee, the American League Cy Young Award winner in 2008, has struggled this season and is 1-6 with a 3.95 ERA, after going 17-8 last year.

In 2009, the Phillies traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for J. C. Ramírez, Phillippe Aumont and Tyson Gillies.

Lee went 8-3 with the struggling Mariners, who traded him to the Texas Rangers before the deadline in 2010. Lee then helped the Rangers reach their first World Series but lost to the San Francisco Giants.

Later that year, Lee spurned the New York Yankees by returning to the Phillies for a five-year deal worth $120 million.

The Rangers are in need of depth in their rotation, with Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison and Colby Lewis the only healthy starters with Derek Holland, Neftali Feliz and Roy Oswalt out with various injuries.

The Rangers are leading the American League West by 4.5 games but the Oakland A's and Los Angeles Angels are gaining slowly ground on them.

Aside from Lee, the Phillies are reportedly putting right fielder Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino and Juan Pierre on the trading block.

The Phillies are talking with the San Francisco Giants about Pence and Victorino. Victorino is hitting .261 with nine homers while Pence has 17 home runs and 59 RBIs this year.

 

Rangers and Phillies Working on Cliff Lee Trade