Well, all 3 of them can't count cause Pods and Vizcaino made 2M on their own. I've seen this mentioned every time the Pods/Lee trade is brought up, but the point is what else could've been acquired. I have to believe there was no shortage of teams willing to take on Lee at that price. But, of course, it worked out. why didn't they just use the money they saved by not signing Magglio and Valentin to get those players? they also lost the salaries of Koch, Loaiza, and Schoenweis after 2004, although they did pick up Contreras' salary. make no mistake about it, Kenny had plenty of payroll flexability after 2004 without trading Lee. he was after speed, D, and the prototypical leadoff hitter. considering Pods' D, he got two of the three.