Cliff Lee attempted a comeback in 2015. It didn’t take.

Cliff Lee’s comeback in 2015 was short lived. Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesBy 2014, the Four Aces had been reduced to two: Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. And when Lee had to leave his start on May 18th with a sore elbow, the ace total was down to just one. Lee headed to the Injured List after that start, and his attempt to return in July lasted just three ineffective starts. The elbow was still causing him pain, and he was shut down for the season.

Lee was advised that the injury should improve with an offseason of rest, and the hope was that he would be able to resume pitching in 2015. The Phillies were fully in rebuild mode, but there was some…