CLEARWATER, Fla. — Left-hander Cliff Lee, the latest addition to the Philadelphia Phillies' stellar starting rotation, says his armpit injury sustained in the offseason is nothing to worry about and he’s back on track in preparations.

"I was just playing catch in the offseason," Lee said Monday morning before working out at Bright House Field. "A little minor something going on in my arm pit. Called the trainers. Went to Philadelphia, they diagnosed it — didn’t throw for a few days, built it back up and here I am. I feel fine, and right with everyone else. It’s not really a major issue."

Asked if he had experienced pain in that spot before, Lee replied: "Different than anything I’ve ever felt. It was underneath my arm, my armpit. Felt it one day, felt it a little bit the next day."

That’s when he contacted the trainers to have it looked at.

Lee, shut down by the training staff for about a week, says he's on schedule for the start of the season.

"We still have plenty of time, and I feel fine," he said. "It's a non-issue. . . . It’s so early, it's not going to matter. I'm going to catch up and be just fine."

— Dave Scheiber