Lee Signs (report)

[UMFan83]

I am assuming that he will not negotiate during the season. If I am wrong then forgive me.

 

It was around this time before first pitch last year when Ramirez signed his deal, time is running out for Lee to do the same. How much do you think Lee will go for on the open market next year?

[rawaction]

I think they'll give it til all these offdays are over. Once the team starts playing every day, I don't think there will be much contract talk until the AS break. I think it will get done. Really no reason not to re-sign a 30-year old star player.

[David]

The papers are reporting this morning that they're very close to an agreement and one should be reached in the next few days.

 

Am I missing some new piece of information?

[goonys evil twin]

I read in a few places that Lee isn't afraid to negotiate during the season just as long as they are close and just hammering out details, which appears to be the case.

[E.J.]

Bruce's Article from today

 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said he planned to talk Sunday evening with the agent for star first baseman Derrek Lee.

 

A deal didn’t appear imminent, but both sides seemed to feel good about something getting done soon.

 

“The latest is that we’re not too far (apart),” Lee said after a rain shower drove the Cubs inside as they worked out for today’s season opener against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. “Hopefully, it works out.”

 

Lee, who led the National League in batting last year with a .335 average to go along with 46 homers, is entering the final year of his contract. Last Opening Day, the Cubs reached agreement on a contract extension with third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

 

If things don’t get done today, Lee said he wouldn’t be opposed to negotiations continuing, as long as they don’t drag on.

 

“If it seems close, yeah,” he said. “If it doesn’t, you just put if off until after the season. We’ll see what happens in the next couple of days. Hopefully, they’ll have a good talk tonight and things work out.

 

“I want to be here. I like it here. Chicago is a great place to play. So hopefully it works out.”

 

It sounds like things will get done soon.

[Mark_R]

Lee's comments, for some reason, make me feel like this isn't going to be a potentially astronomically bad contract.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Lee's comments, for some reason, make me feel like this isn't going to be a potentially astronomically bad contract.

I'm with you on that. Sounds like he wants to play here and will do what it takes to make it happen. Call him the Anti-Johnny Damon.

[RynoRules]

Levine (I know, I know) is reporting that Lee has extended the regular season deadline and this thing will get done this week. I would change the title of this thread until we have info to the contrary.

[Wheelimus]

Sounds like they're down to haggling over numbers, not years, which is a good thing. There's always compromise when you're talking numbers :lol:

[SouthSideRyan]

Wasn't this exact same topic posted last year at this time about Ramirez? Only way more inflammatory.

[srbin84]

What's a good contract for the Cubs with Lee? I'd say 65/5 is about as high as I'd want to go, maybe a few million more but that's it.

[David]

What's a good contract for the Cubs with Lee? I'd say 65/5 is about as high as I'd want to go, maybe a few million more but that's it.

 

Eek.. I sure hope they're not talking 5 years...

[Warren Brusstar]

What's a good contract for the Cubs with Lee? I'd say 65/5 is about as high as I'd want to go, maybe a few million more but that's it.

 

I'd say something on the order of 4 years, 50-55 million would be a pretty good deal for both sides.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

What's a good contract for the Cubs with Lee? I'd say 65/5 is about as high as I'd want to go, maybe a few million more but that's it.

 

I'd say something on the order of 4 years, 50-55 million would be a pretty good deal for both sides.

 

He's not going under Konerko's offer.

[Monco]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

[Blueheart05]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

 

I don't think that's the point. He's still better than Konerko so expect his contract to be in that neighborhood. The Cubs don't want him to become a FA and have other teams attempt to drive up the price. I'm sure some teams would be very willing to overpay so the Cubs will want to be generous without breaking the bank. The best time to do that is now.

[Monco]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

 

I don't think that's the point. He's still better than Konerko so expect his contract to be in that neighborhood. The Cubs don't want him to become a FA and have other teams attempt to drive up the price. I'm sure some teams would be very willing to overpay so the Cubs will want to be generous without breaking the bank. The best time to do that is now.

 

I would put it in Konerkos neighborhood also.Probably a little higher.

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

 

I don't think that's the point. He's still better than Konerko so expect his contract to be in that neighborhood. The Cubs don't want him to become a FA and have other teams attempt to drive up the price. I'm sure some teams would be very willing to overpay so the Cubs will want to be generous without breaking the bank. The best time to do that is now.

 

But Konerko won a world series so he's clutch or something. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Lee get a lesser contract than Konerko.

[snoodmonger]

Could someone refresh my memory RE: Konerko's contract?

[srbin84]

Could someone refresh my memory RE: Konerko's contract?

 

five-year $60-million....That's why I figured 5 years, 65 mil. would be good for Lee.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

 

I don't think that's the point. He's still better than Konerko so expect his contract to be in that neighborhood. The Cubs don't want him to become a FA and have other teams attempt to drive up the price. I'm sure some teams would be very willing to overpay so the Cubs will want to be generous without breaking the bank. The best time to do that is now.

 

But Konerko won a world series so he's clutch or something. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Lee get a lesser contract than Konerko.

 

So again...how does winning a World Series = clutch? I mean Konerko was solid during the playoffs, and outside of maybe Game 2 of the World Series, where he hit the Grand Slam, nobody outside of the White Sox had even heard of Konerko. The Sox pitchers were clutch.

[RynoRules]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

 

I don't think that's the point. He's still better than Konerko so expect his contract to be in that neighborhood. The Cubs don't want him to become a FA and have other teams attempt to drive up the price. I'm sure some teams would be very willing to overpay so the Cubs will want to be generous without breaking the bank. The best time to do that is now.

 

But Konerko won a world series so he's clutch or something. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Lee get a lesser contract than Konerko.

 

So again...how does winning a World Series = clutch? I mean Konerko was solid during the playoffs, and outside of maybe Game 2 of the World Series, where he hit the Grand Slam, nobody outside of the White Sox had even heard of Konerko. The Sox pitchers were clutch.

 

True, but the reality is that he was the best position player on a WS winner, and accordingly, to the victor go the spoils.

[Blueheart05]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

 

I don't think that's the point. He's still better than Konerko so expect his contract to be in that neighborhood. The Cubs don't want him to become a FA and have other teams attempt to drive up the price. I'm sure some teams would be very willing to overpay so the Cubs will want to be generous without breaking the bank. The best time to do that is now.

 

But Konerko won a world series so he's clutch or something. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Lee get a lesser contract than Konerko.

 

I haven't read the rest of the comments but I assume you're joking. Oh yeah, DLee has also won a WS (just not with the Cubs). Lee's contract will be the same or greater than Konerko's (my bet is it will be more).

[Andy]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

 

I don't think that's the point. He's still better than Konerko so expect his contract to be in that neighborhood. The Cubs don't want him to become a FA and have other teams attempt to drive up the price. I'm sure some teams would be very willing to overpay so the Cubs will want to be generous without breaking the bank. The best time to do that is now.

 

But Konerko won a world series so he's clutch or something. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Lee get a lesser contract than Konerko.

 

I haven't read the rest of the comments but I assume you're joking. Oh yeah, DLee has also won a WS (just not with the Cubs). Lee's contract will be the same or greater than Konerko's (my bet is it will be more).

If it's more, I'm guessing it won't be as a Cub.

[Blueheart05]

I don't believe you can base this contract solely on last years numbers.You have to look at his career numbers.Can we expect those kind of numbers again?Does he?

 

I don't think that's the point. He's still better than Konerko so expect his contract to be in that neighborhood. The Cubs don't want him to become a FA and have other teams attempt to drive up the price. I'm sure some teams would be very willing to overpay so the Cubs will want to be generous without breaking the bank. The best time to do that is now.

 

But Konerko won a world series so he's clutch or something. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Lee get a lesser contract than Konerko.

 

I haven't read the rest of the comments but I assume you're joking. Oh yeah, DLee has also won a WS (just not with the Cubs). Lee's contract will be the same or greater than Konerko's (my bet is it will be more).

If it's more, I'm guessing it won't be as a Cub.

 

Not necessarily. I wasn't implying that it would be much more. I believe Koneko's deal was 5/60 so something in the neighborhood of 13M/year is probably in order. I also wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs went 5 years.