What if Lee doesn't come back?

[Sammy Sofa]

I assure everyone, I am not trying to be crass. I fully understand why Lee would retire if his daughter is seriously ill...I would do the same thing. That's why I'm starting this thread seperately since it was said that Lee himself mentioned he would retire if his daughter has a serious or life-threatening condition. It does bring up the legitimate question of what would the Cubs do in that situation?

[UMFan83]

Blame the curse and sell some tickets.

 

Edit: Oh and Hendry would probably use 'Obviously' a lot

[soccer10k]

Blow up the team. This decision is even easier if ARam opts out and signs with another team.

[UMFan83]

Blow up the team. This decision is even easier if ARam opts out and signs with another team.

 

I was just discussing this with a friend. What if Z's deteriorating back condition causes him to be oft injured, Lee retires and Ramirez leaves? Do we even have a lot of tradable assets to 'blow up' the team with?

[Schwarber Fan]

Now lets be optimistic:

 

Lee's daughter recovers nicely and he comes back

 

Dusty is fired and Aramis is locked up to a long term deal

 

Z's back is fine and goes on to win the 2007 Cy...

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't want to think about this on any level.

[Andy]

Let's just not have this happen.

[Electron Blue]

I assure everyone, I am not trying to be crass. I fully understand why Lee would retire if his daughter is seriously ill...I would do the same thing. That's why I'm starting this thread seperately since it was said that Lee himself mentioned he would retire if his daughter has a serious or life-threatening condition. It does bring up the legitimate question of what would the Cubs do in that situation?

 

Really?

 

I don't mean to take anything away from his daughter's situation (not to mention his whole family's situation), but it seems like a strange thing to retire because for. Also, where was the quote, if he said it?

[Sammy Sofa]

I assure everyone, I am not trying to be crass. I fully understand why Lee would retire if his daughter is seriously ill...I would do the same thing. That's why I'm starting this thread seperately since it was said that Lee himself mentioned he would retire if his daughter has a serious or life-threatening condition. It does bring up the legitimate question of what would the Cubs do in that situation?

 

Really?

 

I don't mean to take anything away from his daughter's situation (not to mention his whole family's situation), but it seems like a strange thing to retire because for. Also, where was the quote, if he said it?

 

There was no quote. This is based on a post in the other thread about Lee not playing the rest of the season.

 

heard today that Derrek said that if this is a life-threatening condition and his daughter is sick for an extended period of time he will retire and spend all of his time with his family. I trully hope this is not the case, but if it is he would be making the right decision. Family is the most important thing in the world. If you have enough money to allow you to take that time off you should. My prayers are with the Lee family.

 

This isn't any kind of proof, and the guy could be wrong, but it doesn't seem like he has a reason to lie...and besides, it still raises the hypothetical question whether Lee said it or not. It's not stretch to think he'd retire, at least for a while, f his daughter is seriously ill for an extended period of time.

 

Is it really that strange to see him retire over this? If I had his money and one of my kids was seriously ill or injured, I'd take at least an entire season or two off to be with my family, probably more.

[Rob]

I'm not sure on this... does he have to make an attempt to play in order to collect on the remainder of his contract?

 

I do remember Mo Vaughn was in "rehab" for his knees for a few years, presumably to collect his paychecks.

 

Just wondering...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not sure on this... does he have to make an attempt to play in order to collect on the remainder of his contract?

 

I do remember Mo Vaughn was in "rehab" for his knees for a few years, presumably to collect his paychecks.

 

Just wondering...

 

If he's hurt, then he collects. If he retires, then he does not.

[Rob]

I'm not sure on this... does he have to make an attempt to play in order to collect on the remainder of his contract?

 

I do remember Mo Vaughn was in "rehab" for his knees for a few years, presumably to collect his paychecks.

 

Just wondering...

 

If he's hurt, then he collects. If he retires, then he does not.

 

I had figured as much.

 

In that case, I buy myself a lot of tequila and see what happens in 2008.

[RichHillIsABeast]

If Lee doesn't come back, the last thing we should be worrying about is the state of the Chicago Cubs.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm not sure on this... does he have to make an attempt to play in order to collect on the remainder of his contract?

 

I do remember Mo Vaughn was in "rehab" for his knees for a few years, presumably to collect his paychecks.

 

Just wondering...

 

Well the classy thing I suppose would be to honor at least some of his contract regardless. Certainly there would be no obligtion to, but I think many pro teams would give a little.

[chuckywang]

I hope Lee doesn't retire. Not only for my own selfish baseball needs, but for his daughter's sake as well.

[jmajew]

I assure everyone, I am not trying to be crass. I fully understand why Lee would retire if his daughter is seriously ill...I would do the same thing. That's why I'm starting this thread seperately since it was said that Lee himself mentioned he would retire if his daughter has a serious or life-threatening condition. It does bring up the legitimate question of what would the Cubs do in that situation?

 

Really?

 

I don't mean to take anything away from his daughter's situation (not to mention his whole family's situation), but it seems like a strange thing to retire because for. Also, where was the quote, if he said it?

 

There was no quote. This is based on a post in the other thread about Lee not playing the rest of the season.

 

heard today that Derrek said that if this is a life-threatening condition and his daughter is sick for an extended period of time he will retire and spend all of his time with his family. I trully hope this is not the case, but if it is he would be making the right decision. Family is the most important thing in the world. If you have enough money to allow you to take that time off you should. My prayers are with the Lee family.

 

This isn't any kind of proof, and the guy could be wrong, but it doesn't seem like he has a reason to lie...and besides, it still raises the hypothetical question whether Lee said it or not. It's not stretch to think he'd retire, at least for a while, f his daughter is seriously ill for an extended period of time.

 

Is it really that strange to see him retire over this? If I had his money and one of my kids was seriously ill or injured, I'd take at least an entire season or two off to be with my family, probably more.

 

I was the one who posted the first thing about Lee retiring. My brother told me and he heard it on the score this morning. I dont' know how true it is. I was just trying to point out how serious the situation may be.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm not sure on this... does he have to make an attempt to play in order to collect on the remainder of his contract?

 

I do remember Mo Vaughn was in "rehab" for his knees for a few years, presumably to collect his paychecks.

 

Just wondering...

 

If he's hurt, then he collects. If he retires, then he does not.

 

I don't know exactly how it works, but would the bereavement list work for something long term like this? Where the Cubs could essentially give Lee a year or so off if he needed it?

 

But again, this is getting too morbid and serious for my liking, I really don't want to think about such things.

[soccer10k]

I'm not sure on this... does he have to make an attempt to play in order to collect on the remainder of his contract?

 

I do remember Mo Vaughn was in "rehab" for his knees for a few years, presumably to collect his paychecks.

 

Just wondering...

 

If he's hurt, then he collects. If he retires, then he does not.

 

I don't know exactly how it works, but would the bereavement list work for something long term like this? Where the Cubs could essentially give Lee a year or so off if he needed it?

 

But again, this is getting too morbid and serious for my liking, I really don't want to think about such things.

 

Agreed. I just want to think that all will be well with his daughter and he will report healthy for Spring Training next year.

[Peoriaman]

To answer the original question, the Cubs would get a new first baseman.

 

The chances D Less would retire are so small I could not fathom it.

[CuseCubFan69]

IMO Lee has to do what he has to do and the Cubs have to play it by ear. They won't force his hand so Lee is going to do what is best for his family. If Lee does decide to leave I think the Cubs still have a chance to be competitive and if they decide to go young that's fine by me.

[rynefan]

I think it depends. Where does his family live? My thought is that if it's not Chicago, maybe they'd move to Chicago, where he'd be here half the time during the season, and maybe he'd do the deal where he doesn't travel with the team. I sure hope it's not that serious with his daughter. I haven't heard much more than the press conf on TV, but reading between the lines it's as if something more IS going on. I suppose we just hope for the best for D, and the rest will fall into place. So there was an upside to this horrible season... our big guy can leave and the team doesn't have to suffer. Let's hope for a quick recovery for Jada.

[NewUserName]

I have a son that had a brain tumor about 6 years ago, he is doing fine. When I first found out about it it really shook my foundation as you could imagine. Just as this situation really shook Derrek. After awhile you come to the realization that life goes on and you have to go back to being normal. Right now baseball isnt important to Derrek as my job wasnt important to me for several months. After the initial shock weres off though I think Derrek will probably come to terms with this and move on.

[rynefan]

I agree with New, above. You need time to deal with WHATEVER it is on an emotional level, but then you have to move on with your life, and I'm sure D will make the right decisions. He seems like a level-headed guy.

[BigbadB]

I have a son that had a brain tumor about 6 years ago, he is doing fine. When I first found out about it it really shook my foundation as you could imagine. Just as this situation really shook Derrek. After awhile you come to the realization that life goes on and you have to go back to being normal. Right now baseball isnt important to Derrek as my job wasnt important to me for several months. After the initial shock weres off though I think Derrek will probably come to terms with this and move on.

 

Not to throw another wrench in this retiring thing, but can Derrek financially afford to retire at this point? Especially with huge medical bills soon piling up?

 

How long can someone not play before they start losing the skills that got them there?

[A New Era]

I have a son that had a brain tumor about 6 years ago, he is doing fine. When I first found out about it it really shook my foundation as you could imagine. Just as this situation really shook Derrek. After awhile you come to the realization that life goes on and you have to go back to being normal. Right now baseball isnt important to Derrek as my job wasnt important to me for several months. After the initial shock weres off though I think Derrek will probably come to terms with this and move on.

 

Not to throw another wrench in this retiring thing, but can Derrek financially afford to retire at this point? Especially with huge medical bills soon piling up?

 

How long can someone not play before they start losing the skills that got them there?

 

I don't know how someone CAN'T afford to retire when they've made (I'm guessing here) around a net of $30 million. I mean even if you bought alot of expensive things (I doubt derreck was reckless with his money) you'd still HAVE those things. Like huge houses, and fancy cars, that you could sell for money. Even with huge hospital bills. 1 million dollars in the bank, just in interest makes you about $50,000 a year. Imagine that all you people with regular jobs. If you were a baseball player just for a few years and saved up 5 million dollars. You'd make $250,000 a year just on interest without even having to work.