Lee may consider waiving NTC

[Post Count Padder]

According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, "some friends" of Derrek Lee say the first baseman would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in the right deal.

Lee has remained mum on the topic publicly, even saying he would like to stay, but he may soften his stance now that the Cubs are all but out of the playoff race. As Morosi and Rosenthal write, the Angels would seem to be a natural fit for the impending free-agent. The 34-year-old first baseman lives in California during the off-season. It's not known if the two parties have actually engaged in trade discussions.

Source: FOXSports.com

[erik316wttn]

If we could get something for him, why not?

[UMFan83]

I hope he would. I don't think he's coming back next year regardless, so it would be stupid to stay on this sinking ship when he can get traded to a contender and actually enjoy himself.

[KingCubsFan]

According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, "some friends" of Derrek Lee say the first baseman would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in the right deal.

Lee has remained mum on the topic publicly, even saying he would like to stay, but he may soften his stance now that the Cubs are all but out of the playoff race. As Morosi and Rosenthal write, the Angels would seem to be a natural fit for the impending free-agent. The 34-year-old first baseman lives in California during the off-season. It's not known if the two parties have actually engaged in trade discussions.

Source: FOXSports.com

I wonder if they've given up on Brandon Wood yet.

[lumafia]

According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, "some friends" of Derrek Lee say the first baseman would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in the right deal.

Lee has remained mum on the topic publicly, even saying he would like to stay, but he may soften his stance now that the Cubs are all but out of the playoff race. As Morosi and Rosenthal write, the Angels would seem to be a natural fit for the impending free-agent. The 34-year-old first baseman lives in California during the off-season. It's not known if the two parties have actually engaged in trade discussions.

Source: FOXSports.com

I wonder if they've given up on Brandon Wood yet.

 

Maybe they would let us have Napoli since Conger seems ready to take over behind the plate. Hell, we'll even throw in Colvin for good measure. :beg:

[SouthSideRyan]

According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, "some friends" of Derrek Lee say the first baseman would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in the right deal.

Lee has remained mum on the topic publicly, even saying he would like to stay, but he may soften his stance now that the Cubs are all but out of the playoff race. As Morosi and Rosenthal write, the Angels would seem to be a natural fit for the impending free-agent. The 34-year-old first baseman lives in California during the off-season. It's not known if the two parties have actually engaged in trade discussions.

Source: FOXSports.com

I wonder if they've given up on Brandon Wood yet.

 

Maybe they would let us have Napoli since Conger seems ready to take over behind the plate. Hell, we'll even throw in Colvin for good measure. :beg:

 

Why would they need 2 first basemen?

[rawaction]

I hope he would. I don't think he's coming back next year regardless, so it would be stupid to stay on this sinking ship when he can get traded to a contender and actually enjoy himself.

 

I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if Hendry wants to bring him back on a 1-2 year deal. Of course, that can still be done if they trade him this year, but something tells me that won't happen.

 

That being said, if it does, I wouldn't get too upset. Not sure w/ the Rangers money situation, but they have shown willingness to trade this season. I'd take next to nothing for Lee.

[javy knows my name]

According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, "some friends" of Derrek Lee say the first baseman would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in the right deal.

Lee has remained mum on the topic publicly, even saying he would like to stay, but he may soften his stance now that the Cubs are all but out of the playoff race. As Morosi and Rosenthal write, the Angels would seem to be a natural fit for the impending free-agent. The 34-year-old first baseman lives in California during the off-season. It's not known if the two parties have actually engaged in trade discussions.

Source: FOXSports.com

I wonder if they've given up on Brandon Wood yet.

 

Maybe they would let us have Napoli since Conger seems ready to take over behind the plate. Hell, we'll even throw in Colvin for good measure. :beg:

 

Why would they need 2 first basemen?

HAH!

[bcl412]

I love Lee but there would be worst things then receiving something for old declining relatively expensive players.

[questionmarkgrace]

thank god. I was thinking he would be the guy that wouldnt wave the no trade clause. As bad as aramis has been at least he has an exuse albeit a lame one: the thumb but Lee has just flat out stunk this year.

[Sammy Sofa]

thank god. I was thinking he would be the guy that wouldnt wave the no trade clause. As bad as aramis has been at least he has an exuse albeit a lame one: the thumb but Lee has just flat out stunk this year.

 

Why is this such a huge relief to you? If they couldn't trade him they could just opt to not re-sign him after this season.

[dew1679666265]

Unless Hendry pulls some magic or something, I'd almost rather just keep DLee. We probably won't get much for him now and he should be at least a Type B or maybe even a Type A free agent after the year (or am I crazy?).

 

If he ends up a Type A, we probably would get more value offering him arbitration and letting him walk.

[jersey cubs fan]

Unless Hendry pulls some magic or something, I'd almost rather just keep DLee. We probably won't get much for him now and he should be at least a Type B or maybe even a Type A free agent after the year (or am I crazy?).

 

If he ends up a Type A, we probably would get more value offering him arbitration and letting him walk.

 

But then you run the risk of having to pay him again when nobody offers a contract better than he could get in arbitration. They base it on three year numbers, don't they? It can be beneficial to old guys nearing the end to accept arbitration and probably get a raise even if they sucked in the previous year.

[davearm2]

I'd say there's no chance the Cubs offer Lee arbitration.

 

Kerry Wood was younger, cheaper, and more productive than Lee, and he didn't get offered.

[grassbass]

Unless Hendry pulls some magic or something, I'd almost rather just keep DLee. We probably won't get much for him now and he should be at least a Type B or maybe even a Type A free agent after the year (or am I crazy?).

 

If he ends up a Type A, we probably would get more value offering him arbitration and letting him walk.

 

But then you run the risk of having to pay him again when nobody offers a contract better than he could get in arbitration. They base it on three year numbers, don't they? It can be beneficial to old guys nearing the end to accept arbitration and probably get a raise even if they sucked in the previous year.

 

I thought it was based on two-years, not three.

[jersey cubs fan]

Unless Hendry pulls some magic or something, I'd almost rather just keep DLee. We probably won't get much for him now and he should be at least a Type B or maybe even a Type A free agent after the year (or am I crazy?).

 

If he ends up a Type A, we probably would get more value offering him arbitration and letting him walk.

 

But then you run the risk of having to pay him again when nobody offers a contract better than he could get in arbitration. They base it on three year numbers, don't they? It can be beneficial to old guys nearing the end to accept arbitration and probably get a raise even if they sucked in the previous year.

 

I thought it was based on two-years, not three.

 

I have no idea actually. I'm just thinking that an arbiter would be willing to look past recent struggles of an old guy more than I would. An old player coming off a horrible year shouldn't get a big deal in free agency, but if he made $10m the year before he could get a lot in arbitration.

[dew1679666265]

But then you run the risk of having to pay him again when nobody offers a contract better than he could get in arbitration. They base it on three year numbers, don't they? It can be beneficial to old guys nearing the end to accept arbitration and probably get a raise even if they sucked in the previous year.

 

If he accepts arbitration then you just keep him for another year. He wouldn't be blocking anybody in the system and there's not any big-time free agents available this offseason.

 

I wouldn't offer him a multi-year deal or anything, but considering we're unlikely to be competitive next year, taking a chance that somebody will sign him and we get picks in return is reasonable, I think. It's better than getting a mediocre or worse package for him at his lowest value. He might start hitting again next year.

[jersey cubs fan]

He might not be blocking anybody, but it's still risking $10m on a crappy player, and that is $10m that can't go toward other potential improvements.

[dew1679666265]

I'd say there's no chance the Cubs offer Lee arbitration.

 

Kerry Wood was younger, cheaper, and more productive than Lee, and he didn't get offered.

 

Wood was cheaper in a raw dollar evaluation, but $10 million to a closer is a whole lot more than $10-12 million for a first baseman. Also, Wood had significant injury concerns and may have raised red flags for the Cubs as to whether he'd be able to pitch the next season.

 

DLee may be washed up and may not be productive, but he also might have a resurgence next year. There aren't really significant injury concerns for DLee (other than him being mid-30s) like there were for Wood and paying $12 million for a first baseman on a one-year deal isn't that extreme, whereas paying $10 million for an oft-injured closer is.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd say there's no chance the Cubs offer Lee arbitration.

 

Kerry Wood was younger, cheaper, and more productive than Lee, and he didn't get offered.

 

Wood was cheaper in a raw dollar evaluation, but $10 million to a closer is a whole lot more than $10-12 million for a first baseman. Also, Wood had significant injury concerns and may have raised red flags for the Cubs as to whether he'd be able to pitch the next season.

 

DLee may be washed up and may not be productive, but he also might have a resurgence next year. There aren't really significant injury concerns for DLee (other than him being mid-30s) like there were for Wood and paying $12 million for a first baseman on a one-year deal isn't that extreme, whereas paying $10 million for an oft-injured closer is.

 

They aren't Wood-like, but his back and neck bothers him every year, and that can only get worse with age.

[dew1679666265]

He might not be blocking anybody, but it's still risking $10m on a crappy player, and that is $10m that can't go toward other potential improvements.

 

Such as? If we were likely to be good next year or if there were very good free agents available at positions of need for us in this offseason, I'd agree with you. But if we pay $12 million in arbitration to DLee, we might miss out on signing Jorge Cantu or giving 3-4 years to Adam Dunn. The positive to offering DLee arbitration is that if he doesn't accept and somebody signs him, we get more in return (and possibly significantly more if he ends up a Type A) than if we trade him at his lowest value and if he accepts, he has the potential to be better than Cantu if he rebounds and we might get even more at next year's deadline.

 

Since we're not going to be competitive next year (most likely), we don't have any first base prospects in the system and there aren't any impact first baseman on the FA market, I don't see a problem with keeping DLee and offering him arby. Unless we get a good offer at the deadline, that is.

[dew1679666265]

They aren't Wood-like, but his back and neck bothers him every year, and that can only get worse with age.

 

With Wood there was a significant chance he wouldn't pitch at all in a season. With DLee there's a chance, but it's nowhere near the level it was for Wood. The injuries and the price tag on Wood make the two not very comparable.

[jersey cubs fan]

He might not be blocking anybody, but it's still risking $10m on a crappy player, and that is $10m that can't go toward other potential improvements.

 

Such as? If we were likely to be good next year or if there were very good free agents available at positions of need for us in this offseason, I'd agree with you. But if we pay $12 million in arbitration to DLee, we might miss out on signing Jorge Cantu or giving 3-4 years to Adam Dunn. The positive to offering DLee arbitration is that if he doesn't accept and somebody signs him, we get more in return (and possibly significantly more if he ends up a Type A) than if we trade him at his lowest value and if he accepts, he has the potential to be better than Cantu if he rebounds and we might get even more at next year's deadline.

 

Since we're not going to be competitive next year (most likely), we don't have any first base prospects in the system and there aren't any impact first baseman on the FA market, I don't see a problem with keeping DLee and offering him arby. Unless we get a good offer at the deadline, that is.

 

It doesn't have to be another first basemen. If $10-12m of the budget goes to Lee, it can't go toward anybody else, maybe another Byrd or DeRosa type player, not highly compensated, but quality player nonetheless. And that can affect 2012 and beyond since you wouldn't be able to sign them in 2011.

[jersey cubs fan]

They aren't Wood-like, but his back and neck bothers him every year, and that can only get worse with age.

 

With Wood there was a significant chance he wouldn't pitch at all in a season. With DLee there's a chance, but it's nowhere near the level it was for Wood. The injuries and the price tag on Wood make the two not very comparable.

 

They are not very comparable, other than in the discussion about the Cubs willingness to risk arbitration with a player who might take it.

[dew1679666265]

It doesn't have to be another first basemen. If $10-12m of the budget goes to Lee, it can't go toward anybody else, maybe another Byrd or DeRosa type player, not highly compensated, but quality player nonetheless. And that can affect 2012 and beyond since you wouldn't be able to sign them in 2011.

 

This free agent class is really bad. There are a few nice pitchers and outfielders available (Crawford, De La Rosa, Francis, Bonderman, etc) but nothing on the infield outside of Cantu, Dunn and maybe Maicer Izturis. The best FA second baseman is either Jose Lopez or Aki Iwamura. There's a chance one of Rollins or Reyes could be available and, if either is, I'd change my mind about offering DLee arbitration.

 

However, it's unlikely either of them are available and that leaves not much of anything I'd be interested in.