Carlos Lee Rejects Extension/Traded to Rangers

[JonnyRed]

From Rotoworld:

Is it pretty much a given that the Cubs will be the team to give him 5 years and $65 million? :x

 

I wouldn't bet on it. How many players in the Hendry era have received 5 year contracts (or longer)?

 

He was willing to go five years to get Furcal. Luckily the Dodgers saved us on that one.

 

Furcal would have been a huge upgrade over Cedeno.

 

There is absolutely NO WAY that Furcal is worth the $13M the Dodgers are paying him. The only substantial upside to him versus Cedeno is the additional 20 stolen bases. Plus Furcal has a bad glove. Even with Cedeno's inexperience, he has less errors than Furcal (16 vs. 20).

 

So his ability to get on base frequently is of no value? I would take a .346 OBP out of the SS position any day of the week. Nobody said he was worth the $13M he is getting paid, but he would have been a lot better option over Cedeno. Quite franklyI don't understand why anyone would be so concerned over the payroll, when Hendry had more money to spend this year, he just chose not to spend it. Would you rather have $10-15 M going to the Tribune company's pocketbook or a Major League SS? To me its a no brainer.

 

You also have to consider the impact on the Furcal deal on future deals. Would A-Ram or D-Lee want to renegotiate? What about Z? Would it prevent us from signing C-Lee or Zito this off-season? Sure, there's no question Furcal is better (right now) than Cedeno, but you have to consider the big picture and future as well.

[rawaction]

If Cruz is going to Texas, they win this trade big time. Cruz in Texas could put up numbers like GMJr is doing this year. He's an underrated offensive talent. Nix is not a good player. Mench at his best will be a Carlos Lee clone without the batting average. Cordero is aging and mediocre now.

[pitchcs]

For Cordero, Nix and Mench. Good riddance from the NL Central and killing the Cubs.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2532418

 

I don't really know how to use the URL thing, so I'm not sure if that worked or not.

[Proven Veteran]

IBTL

[imb]

I think the real big winners here are the Cubs, since Lee can't kick our ass for the rest of the year.

 

Texas can't (or shouldn't, not for 5/65) resign Lee and Milwaukee didn't get anything too worthwhile out of it. I thought they would have gone for prospects, but I guess they're young enough as it is.

[TheDude]

If Cruz is going to Texas, they win this trade big time. Cruz in Texas could put up numbers like GMJr is doing this year. He's an underrated offensive talent. Nix is not a good player. Mench at his best will be a Carlos Lee clone without the batting average. Cordero is aging and mediocre now.

 

I also think the Rangers are winners in this deal, but Cordero is a decent return. Age for a pitcher, especially a reliever, is completely irrelevent. And switching from the AL West to the NL Central will greatly improve his numbers.

[Elrhino]

Yeah, but Cordero will be a free agent after the year unless you picked up his $6 million option at the end of the season. Pretty costly price tag for a 4.81 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.

[DiamondMind]

I don't like this trade at all for Milwaukee, they just got a bunch of spare parts.

[SouthSideRyan]

I agree with the Rangers crowd, I'm not seeing where this is a great deal for the Brewers. Can anyone tell me more about the prospect the Brewers got?

[TheDude]

Yeah, but Cordero will be a free agent after the year unless you picked up his $6 million option at the end of the season. Pretty costly price tag for a 4.81 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.

 

He's priced right for a closer. 3 year splits from 2002-2005 have 2.82 ERA with 248 K's in 223 innings. And those are AL numbers.

 

This year appears to be the anamoly and with a switch to the NL, it looks like the Brewers are gambling he returns to his 3-year splits numbers prior to 2006.

[Outshined_One]

I'm impressed the Rangers didn't have to give up Danks, Diamond, or Volquez in this deal.

[Elrhino]

If Cruz is going to Texas, they win this trade big time. Cruz in Texas could put up numbers like GMJr is doing this year. He's an underrated offensive talent. Nix is not a good player. Mench at his best will be a Carlos Lee clone without the batting average. Cordero is aging and mediocre now.

 

I agree, and he's going to start in RF for the Rangers tommorrow night.

 

Personally, it sucks because I was holding out hope that the Brewers would resign Lee and Cruz would've been expendible in a potential Maddux trade.

[dvdd127]

good deal for the both sides.......

Hopefully he decides to become a freeagent.

[cheapseats]

I agree with the Rangers crowd, I'm not seeing where this is a great deal for the Brewers. Can anyone tell me more about the prospect the Brewers got?

 

This is a good deal for the Brewers. They have only a 4 percent chance of making the playoffs this year, so it would make little sense to hold onto Lee and let him walk in the offseason.

 

Mench isn't eligible for free agency until after 2008, so they'll have him the next two years. PECOTA sees him as a 3.4 WARP player next year. Lee is projected at 3.8, so while Mench probably won't match Lee's production, he should come awfully close.

 

Corey Hart (who has a .385 OBP right now) projects to have a 3.7 WARP next year.

 

This trade paves the way for Hart to play every day, and it will allow the Brewers to platoon Mench and Jenkins - if they go that route (and I think they should) before trading Jenkins at the deadline next year.

 

The Rangers have a very good shot at the postseason, and Lee should help.

 

It looks like a good deal for both teams.

[SouthSideRyan]

I agree with the Rangers crowd, I'm not seeing where this is a great deal for the Brewers. Can anyone tell me more about the prospect the Brewers got?

 

This is a good deal for the Brewers. They have only a 4 percent chance of making the playoffs this year, so it would make little sense to hold onto Lee and let him walk in the offseason.

 

Mench isn't eligible for free agency until after 2008, so they'll have him the next two years. PECOTA sees him as a 3.4 WARP player next year. Lee is projected at 3.8, so while Mench probably won't match Lee's production, he should come awfully close.

 

Corey Hart (who has a .385 OBP right now) projects to have a 3.7 WARP next year.

 

This trade paves the way for Hart to play every day, and it will allow the Brewers to platoon Mench and Jenkins - if they go that route (and I think they should) before trading Jenkins at the deadline next year.

 

The Rangers have a very good shot at the postseason, and Lee should help.

 

It looks like a good deal for both teams.

 

It wasn't an either trade Lee to the Rangers for redundant parts or let him walk proposition. Lee should've been dealt for pitching, not a platoon player and a "proven closer"

[jjgman21]

looks like Cruz is having a good year at AAA (.309/.367/.523) but he's no spring chicken at 26. long time getting to the majors = high strikeout totals (100 in about 415 PAs) = can't hit an offspeed pitch?

 

it should also be noted the initial reports didn't mention the Brewers also got a decent looking A ball pitcher in the deal. seems like a pretty fair deal to me.

[badgercub]

I don't think you can totally grade this deal yet. I don't see the Brewers hanging onto Cordero, I see him being shipped in the next week yet. Also, the Brewers couldn't afford to just let Lee walk, they had to get something in return and Mench will probably give them close to Lee's career numbers. Remember Lee is having a career year and has never put up numbers even close to this. This deal helps the Brewers in the long run because it will clear payroll for them to acquire the pitching they so desperately need in the offseason. You have to remember that the Brewer's are on a much tighter budget than the Cubs so payroll is a big consideration when you look at how they have to manage their roster.

[soccer10k]

Good deal by the Brewers to get something for Carlos Lee. Not sure why the Rangers wanted more offense though.

[jjgman21]

Good deal by the Brewers to get something for Carlos Lee. Not sure why the Rangers wanted more offense though.

 

Probably the same reason the press gave for why the Sox were/are pursuing Soriano. There's no pitching available, might as well improve where you can.

 

if Beane holds onto Zito and the Giants hold onto Schmidt, which I think they both will as the playoffs are reachable, the top pitchers on the market are Livan and Maddux.

[cheapseats]

 

It wasn't an either trade Lee to the Rangers for redundant parts or let him walk proposition. Lee should've been dealt for pitching, not a platoon player and a "proven closer"

 

What pitching is available? The Brewers are too far out of the race to rent a difference-making starter, trading for middle relief is not smart, and TNSSAAPP.

 

I think Lee got a very good return considering he's just a two month rental.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Can someone tell me what differentiates Cruz from, say, Brandon Sing?

[SouthSideRyan]

 

It wasn't an either trade Lee to the Rangers for redundant parts or let him walk proposition. Lee should've been dealt for pitching, not a platoon player and a "proven closer"

 

What pitching is available? The Brewers are too far out of the race to rent a difference-making starter, trading for middle relief is not smart, and TNSSAAPP.

 

I think Lee got a very good return considering he's just a two month rental.

 

I [expletive] HATE TINSTAAPP. It's absurd.

[Andy]

The MLB.com subhead to this move states that Jon Daniels has the intention of signing Carlos in the off-season. If he can sign him for a decent deal then this becomes a fantastic trade. As it is, Texas's chances of winning the West just got a lot better.

[soccer10k]

Good deal by the Brewers to get something for Carlos Lee. Not sure why the Rangers wanted more offense though.

 

Probably the same reason the press gave for why the Sox were/are pursuing Soriano. There's no pitching available, might as well improve where you can.

 

if Beane holds onto Zito and the Giants hold onto Schmidt, which I think they both will as the playoffs are reachable, the top pitchers on the market are Livan and Maddux.

 

And IIRC, Maddux doesn't want to go to the AL.

[NewUserName]

For all the people that are hoping that Carlos Lee is a potential free agent and that the Cubs go after him. A case could be made that Jim Edmonds is still a better player. I would even go as far as saying by the end of the year will have a similar ops. I dont think anyone is going to offer him 15 million a year. Carlos Lee is going to be way overpaid and someone is going to regret it in a couple of years