DLee's Trade Value

[PackLandVA]

I don't know how many years he has left on his deal, but compared to Soriano and Rammy, isn't he a bit underpaid? He'll command a ton down the road. He's about the only player on the team that would net young talent.

 

I'd hate to see him go, and they really have no viable replacement. But if the Cubs want to make some trades and get any real value in return, who's expendable?? Doesn't look like they have much other than some of their own young (and mostly unproven) talent.

[anabiono]

i would be all for it...shop him to the yankees...NOW

[Mephistopheles]

No.

[BDWeav71]

Absolutely not. You don't trade DLee when you are in a division like we are in. We can still comeback and win this division, and DLee is a huge part of us doing that.

[A New Era]

Absolutely not. You don't trade DLee when you are in a division like we are in. We can still comeback and win this division, and DLee is a huge part of us doing that.

 

True but I feel we need to make a move. Add a great bat to RF or SS. Then I'd feel very good about our chances. I just want something done. If you're not going to firesale then add that impact bat.

[Amazing_Grace]

I think it would depend on what you can get, whether you trade him or not. Lee is a great player, but 1b is not a difficult position to find players for. If we could get two ML ready prospects or a stud SS, then I'd be all for it. At some point, you have to think about the future and what positions are easiest to fill from the FA pool. SS will be rough, but respectable 1b are more common.

 

I'd do Lee for ARod or even Lee/Guzman for ARod if Alex would agree not to opt out of his contract this offseason, and if I was convinced he could still play SS. I'd also consider a deal of Lee for Hughes+prospects. You have to get somebody that's a top prospect or a great player or there's no point in trading him.

[hawkeyecub]

No. He's signed through 2010 at around $13M per, although I'm not sure if it's backloaded. He'll be 34 in his final year of the deal so he shouldn't see his production drop significantly.

 

We also obviously have Ramirez and Soriano signed through that time also for a solid offensive nucleus near their prime or plateau years. Our pitching shouldn't be in terrible shape during that period either. We have some possible young, cheap pieces in Chicago and the minors to be able to fill C, CF and 2B at a low cost for these next few years.

 

If you deal Lee you aren't going to make up that all-around production, plus his defense for the same price. In this division with the roster and budget we have, we shouldn't be building for the future. And I don't know if we can find a deal for Lee that makes us better for the next 3.5 years and fits with the pieces we have.

[RichHillIsABeast]

DLee is the last player we should be looking to deal.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I wouldn't look to deal Lee. If the right offer came along, though I'd certainly listen.

 

If a team was willing to trade 3-4 major league ready prospects with one or more of those having a high ceiling, I might venture the trade.

 

If Atlanta would offer Salty + Escobar along with a pitcher like Harrison, Reyes, or Smith- that might be a deal you look at.

 

Before doing the deal, we'd have to be certain that one of the players we're getting could be an impact player.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

DLee is the last player we should be looking to deal.

QFT

 

Lee is the one guy I'd put the "untouchable" tag on if I'm the Cubs. He does too much, and is too valuable to this team both offensively and defensively. That'd be like the Cardinals trading Pujols, except that Lee is probably a better defensive player.

[TheDude]

Absolutely not. You don't trade DLee when you are in a division like we are in. We can still comeback and win this division, and DLee is a huge part of us doing that.

 

True but I feel we need to make a move. Add a great bat to RF or SS. Then I'd feel very good about our chances. I just want something done. If you're not going to firesale then add that impact bat.

 

What 'great bat' is better than Lee? He is 12th in baseball in OPS even with only 6 HR. The names that are higher on the list are not available, and represent a minimal net upgrade anyway.

 

The only reason to deal Lee is if you're looking for 3 or 4 prospects to rebuild a team around. The Cubs won't do this.

[PackLandVA]

I'm not suggesting trading DLee. I just don't think the Cubs have much veteran talent to get them youthful talent.

[BigbadB]

I don't think they need much "youthful" talent. They need good players to surround the good young talent they have now.

[cbbryan]

I've heard rumblings about the White Sox unloading salary. What about Thome?

 

If the Cubs were to trade prospects for Thome and then trade DLee + Guzman to NYY for ARod, or to Boston for Manny........... would this be a better Cub team?

 

Just a thought.

[Brian]

I wouldn't put Thome in the field every day. I don't think his body can handle it anymore.

[OleMissCub]

Probably the last question that would ever enter my mind.

 

 

HELL HELL HELL NO!

[killthegoat06]

No.

[Amazing_Grace]

I've heard rumblings about the White Sox unloading salary. What about Thome?

 

If the Cubs were to trade prospects for Thome and then trade DLee + Guzman to NYY for ARod, or to Boston for Manny........... would this be a better Cub team?

 

Just a thought.

 

Offensively, yes, if they could stay healthy but what "prospects" are we talking about trading for Thome, and who backs up 1b since he's a good bet to get injured at some point. I'd rather do Zambrano for ARod straight up (assuming ARod agrees not to opt out), and then try to maybe pick up a couple pitching prospects by dealing some combination of Izturis/Theriot/Fontenot/DeRosa. The rotation next season would still be respectable (Hill, Marshall, Marquis, Lilly, Gallagher/Guzman), but the offense would be a force to be reckoned with, especially if Murton learns to play RF or Fontenot continues to hit at 2nd allowing DeRosa to move to RF. Moving Z or another of the expensive guys is the only way I think the Cubs could take on a salary the level of ARod.

[cbbryan]

I've heard rumblings about the White Sox unloading salary. What about Thome?

 

If the Cubs were to trade prospects for Thome and then trade DLee + Guzman to NYY for ARod, or to Boston for Manny........... would this be a better Cub team?

 

Just a thought.

 

Offensively, yes, if they could stay healthy but what "prospects" are we talking about trading for Thome, and who backs up 1b since he's a good bet to get injured at some point. I'd rather do Zambrano for ARod straight up (assuming ARod agrees not to opt out), and then try to maybe pick up a couple pitching prospects by dealing some combination of Izturis/Theriot/Fontenot/DeRosa. The rotation next season would still be respectable (Hill, Marshall, Marquis, Lilly, Gallagher/Guzman), but the offense would be a force to be reckoned with, especially if Murton learns to play RF or Fontenot continues to hit at 2nd allowing DeRosa to move to RF. Moving Z or another of the expensive guys is the only way I think the Cubs could take on a salary the level of ARod.

 

I'm not necessarily condoning a move like this. I'm just saying the only possibility of DLee being moved is in a situation where the Cubs could pick up someone like MRam, or ARod and then spin a deal for a stopgap 1B like Thome.

 

It would be tough to justify moving DLee if it wasn't for an elite player.

 

I agree w/ your setiments about Z for ARod. I'd prefer the Cubs just re-sign him, but if they decide they can't I'm all for trading him for ARod. If ARod waives his right to opt out of his deal.

[Omar]

How many times are we gonna see this thread?

 

It came up a couple times in the middle of 2005, too.

[JC]

I have never been a fan of Lee's right handed bat at first base. If Teixeira gets healthy, I wouldn't mind a deal with Lee and Teixeira as the principles. But, wasn't Lee given a no-trade?

[rawaction]

Anyone think the Dodgers would give up Billingsley, Loney and one of Kemp/Laroche for Lee and either Murton or a SP prospect?

[coreyMVP]

I would not necessarily be shopping Lee, but I would certainly consider a trade.

Since the wrist injury, Lee has warning track power. The Cubs are now on the hook for $13 mil./yr for essentially Mark Grace (without the chain smoking and nightly chick trolling). That is an awful lot to pay for pop-gun power.

[YearofDaCubs]

Anyone think the Dodgers would give up Billingsley, Loney and one of Kemp/Laroche for Lee and either Murton or a SP prospect?

I don't think so.

[tkenm356]

One, the Dodgers said they won't move Billingsley.

 

And two, we don't need to trade Lee. We had a discussion about this what... 2 weeks ago? The idea that we should get an impact bat for Derrek Lee is [expletive]. Lee IS an impact bat. Sure he doesn't have the HR totals, but his OPS is outstanding considering. Trading an impact bat for an impact bat is pointless. You don't trade a great bat for something that does the same thing. If you trade someone like Lee, you trade him because you need to fill holes that are in dire need of replacing. We need a SS, a RF, and to a lesser extent one more good starter/reliever. On top of that, you only trade Lee if you have someone who can fill his void in 1B, which we don't have. Fill a hole by creating another one doesn't exactly seem like a smart move.

 

Plus, he DOES have a NTC