Lee may consider waiving NTC

[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.

 

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

 

Like I said, the injuries and, thus, the price tag on Wood ($10 million for a closer is a whole lot more than $10 million for a first baseman) likely kept them from offering arbitration. And I really think Hendry would have interest in bringing DLee back, so he might offer arbitration with the idea that he'd be perfectly willing to bring him back.

[jersey cubs fan]

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.

 

It also does not have to be a free agent acquisition for the money to matter.

 

$10m on DLee is a risk, there's no reason to pretend otherwise.

[jersey cubs fan]

Like I said, the injuries and, thus, the price tag on Wood ($10 million for a closer is a whole lot more than $10 million for a first baseman) likely kept them from offering arbitration. And I really think Hendry would have interest in bringing DLee back, so he might offer arbitration with the idea that he'd be perfectly willing to bring him back.

 

You can't say it's clear cut they won't offer, but the fact that they have not offered risky players in the past indicates they may not be willing to offer Lee.

[dew1679666265]

It also does not have to be a free agent acquisition for the money to matter.

 

$10m on DLee is a risk, there's no reason to pretend otherwise.

 

It's a risk, sure. But for a team not likely to be competitive next year, it's worth taking the risk to try to get better prospects.

[dew1679666265]

Like I said, the injuries and, thus, the price tag on Wood ($10 million for a closer is a whole lot more than $10 million for a first baseman) likely kept them from offering arbitration. And I really think Hendry would have interest in bringing DLee back, so he might offer arbitration with the idea that he'd be perfectly willing to bring him back.

 

You can't say it's clear cut they won't offer, but the fact that they have not offered risky players in the past indicates they may not be willing to offer Lee.

 

They may not be willing, but using Wood as an example of why they wouldn't isn't very useful. He and Harden were both significant injury risks and that likely played huge roles in not offering arbitration. DLee is not that big of an injury risk (other than he's in his mid-30s).

[davearm2]

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.

The Elias rankings are based on two years IIRC.

[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.

The Elias rankings are based on two years IIRC.

 

I was referring to the criteria the arbiter uses when making his decision, not how they rank a player.

[davearm2]

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.

The Elias rankings are based on two years IIRC.

 

I was referring to the criteria the arbiter uses when making his decision, not how they rank a player.

I don't think there's any specific timeframe on that. I believe each side can argue their position using whatever data they wish, and the arbiter can consider whatever he finds pertinent. I could be wrong though.

[Guest]

After this season, would Lee really qualify as a Type A?

[dew1679666265]

After this season, would Lee really qualify as a Type A?

 

He'd have to rebound pretty significantly to do it. Cot's has him projected as a Type B with a score of 68. The lowest Type A 1B/OF on the list is Hunter Pence with a score of 72.56...

 

I have no idea how much it would take for DLee to move from a 68 to a 72...

[erik316wttn]

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.

 

I think there's a very good chance DLee won't pitch at all in a season. :)

[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.

 

I think there's a very good chance DLee won't pitch at all in a season. :)

 

He's nearly hitting like a pitcher at this point, so maybe we should give him a try. :wink: