Contract Talks with Lee and Cubs Could Begin This Week

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

From the Trib...

 

Link

 

Contract talks between the agent of Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and general manager Jim Hendry could begin later this week.

 

"When I get out to spring training, we will sit down and just commence talks about Derrek at that point," said Lee's agent, Casey Close, who was planning to be in Florida at the start of this week before heading to the Cubs' camp in Arizona.

 

I'd look to tear up the final year of this deal and re-structure it to pay Lee something like this:

 

2 million signing bonus.

06: 9.5 million

07: 11 million

08: 11 million

09: 12 million

10: 14 million option with a 2 million buyout.

 

At it's highest, it's a 5 year59.5 million deal. At it's cheapest it is 4 years, 47.5 deal.

 

I think it's a fair deal for both sides.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Is Lee going to take less than 60M/5 (Konerko money)?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

This is a very bad situation for the Cubs. Lee breaking out the year before his contract year puts them in a no-win situation. Trading him you won't get full value unless there's an extension signed before, and signing him to an extension before he can repeat those numbers is equally bad.

[radarluv1]

From the Trib...

 

Link

 

Contract talks between the agent of Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and general manager Jim Hendry could begin later this week.

 

"When I get out to spring training, we will sit down and just commence talks about Derrek at that point," said Lee's agent, Casey Close, who was planning to be in Florida at the start of this week before heading to the Cubs' camp in Arizona.

 

I'd look to tear up the final year of this deal and re-structure it to pay Lee something like this:

 

2 million signing bonus.

06: 9.5 million

07: 11 million

08: 11 million

09: 12 million

10: 14 million option with a 2 million buyout.

 

At it's highest, it's a 5 year59.5 million deal. At it's cheapest it is 4 years, 47.5 deal.

 

I think it's a fair deal for both sides.

 

i think it would be highly likely that the cubs would be buying out of 2010 if this is the deal. TT is right, its a tough spot for the cubs, but we can be pretty confident that Lee will never be bad. he just may not be good enough for 5/60.

[Brian]

This is a very bad situation for the Cubs. Lee breaking out the year before his contract year puts them in a no-win situation. Trading him you won't get full value unless there's an extension signed before, and signing him to an extension before he can repeat those numbers is equally bad.

 

i'd call it a win situation if he keeps close to those numbers of last year...

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

This is a very bad situation for the Cubs. Lee breaking out the year before his contract year puts them in a no-win situation. Trading him you won't get full value unless there's an extension signed before, and signing him to an extension before he can repeat those numbers is equally bad.

 

i'd call it a win situation if he keeps close to those numbers of last year...

 

That's the only scenario in which it is a win. What are the odds on that happening thoughout the life of his contract (or even the majority of the time)? That's a lot of money.

 

Remember Adrian Beltre.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Remember Adrian Beltre.

 

A down year for Lee would still be far better than an average Beltre season. If he reverts to his career norms, and he's only slightly overpaid.

[goonys evil twin]

Remember Adrian Beltre.

 

A down year for Lee would still be far better than an average Beltre season. If he reverts to his career norms, and he's only slightly overpaid.

 

If Lee gets a deal that averages $12m, or even just $10m, and he reverts to his career norms, he will be more than slightly overpaid. Lee's career norm is way down the ladder for first baseman.

 

Best case scenario is he gets that $12m but performs like the $15-17m player he was last year. I doubt we'll be that lucky though.

[Brian]

This is a very bad situation for the Cubs. Lee breaking out the year before his contract year puts them in a no-win situation. Trading him you won't get full value unless there's an extension signed before, and signing him to an extension before he can repeat those numbers is equally bad.

 

i'd call it a win situation if he keeps close to those numbers of last year...

 

That's the only scenario in which it is a win. What are the odds on that happening thoughout the life of his contract (or even the majority of the time)? That's a lot of money.

 

Remember Adrian Beltre.

 

I know it's unlikely, but you can't call it a no-win situation. I'd still slightly overpay for for his gold glove (which helps out Aramis too), and even if he doesn't hit for the average he did last year, he's still a hitter with a good approach and 40HR power.

 

Of the 1B that will be available to us, I can't think of one i'd rather have, and if we let him test FA someone will go way above what the Cubs are willing to go even if he reverts.

[goonys evil twin]

Of the 1B that will be available to us, I can't think of one i'd rather have, and if we let him test FA someone will go way above what the Cubs are willing to go even if he reverts.

 

I agree he's their best bet, and they pretty much have to resign him. But that's what makes it a not so good situation for the Cubs. They pretty much have to extend a guy at exactly the worst time for the team and best time for the player.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If Lee gets a deal that averages $12m, or even just $10m, and he reverts to his career norms, he will be more than slightly overpaid. Lee's career norm is way down the ladder for first baseman.

 

Best case scenario is he gets that $12m but performs like the $15-17m player he was last year. I doubt we'll be that lucky though.

 

It's all relative. I don't think $10-12 for Lee's 850-900 OPS is too terribly obscene when people like AJ Burnett and Rafael Furcal are getting the same amount or more. The fact that he brings a good glove with him helps, but I would not consider him more than slightly overpaid.

[goonys evil twin]

If Lee gets a deal that averages $12m, or even just $10m, and he reverts to his career norms, he will be more than slightly overpaid. Lee's career norm is way down the ladder for first baseman.

 

Best case scenario is he gets that $12m but performs like the $15-17m player he was last year. I doubt we'll be that lucky though.

 

It's all relative. I don't think $10-12 for Lee's 850-900 OPS is too terribly obscene when people like AJ Burnett and Rafael Furcal are getting the same amount or more. The fact that he brings a good glove with him helps, but I would not consider him more than slightly overpaid.

 

Lee at his average is similar to Furcal at his average, and both would be significantly overpaid.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I think Lee is going to get more than Konerko money, which would make him more than slightly overpaid if he reverts to career norms. If he wants to cut us a discount along the lines of what Vance proposed, then I'd be pretty happy considering the crappy contracts doled out this offseason. We don't have to fear Lee pulling a Sosa on us. I just don't want him for 5+ years. 4 and an option would be ok.