Cliff Lee Receives Clearance to Pitch

Veteran left-hander Cliff Lee, who was released by the Philadelphia Phillies after missing the entire 2015 season, is again throwing after receiving medical clearance to pitch, his agent, Darek Braunecker, told CBSSports.com on Thursday. Braunecker grew up in Effingham.

The 37-year-old Lee, who hasn't pitched since July 2014, was put on the 60-day disabled list before spring training last season in an attempt to rehabilitate a torn common flexor tendon without having surgery, which was recommended.

It's the third time the left-hander has tried to come back from the injury without an operation.

Blue Jays Name Atkins Executive Vice President

The Toronto Blue Jays have named Indians executive Ross Atkins as their executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager.

Atkins most recently served as the Indians' vice president of player personnel. He joins the front office along with Mark Shapiro, his good friend and a fellow longtime Indians front-office executive who was named president and CEO of the Blue Jays in early July. That led then-GM Alex Anthopoulos, considered the architect of the Blue Jays' first playoff team since 1993, to reject a five-year contract extension to remain on the same day he was named executive of the year. A Canadian, his departure did not go over well with the Toronto's fan base.

Tony LaCava, an assistant to Anthopoulos since 2007, was promoted to senior vice president of baseball operations and assistant GM. He served as interim general manager and was a candidate for the job. Before joining the Blue Jays, LaCava worked with Shapiro in Cleveland in 2002.