Cubs GM Jim Hendry confirmed to ESPN's Bruce Levine today that first baseman Derrek Lee wants to play out his contract with the Cubs. Lee has full no-trade rights, and the recent scuttlebutt from Levine's colleague Jayson Stark on Twitter was that he'd veto any trade.
Levine notes that the Angels proposed a trade to the Cubs for Lee over the past ten days. Lee vetoed the potential, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (Twitter link). Levine originally reported that the Rangers made a proposal for Lee, but now says Texas never offered a deal.
like why?????????????? i hate being a cubs fan
He is selfish doesnt want to move to another team till he is a free agent, and the other team like the angels would expect him to hit and here in chicago he can slack like the rest of the veterans
He is selfish doesnt want to move to another team till he is a free agent, and the other team like the angels would expect him to hit and here in chicago he can slack like the rest of the veterans
I think he knows if he goes to the Angels or who ever that come next year he might be next years Jermaine Dye in free agency
How is that any different if he stays with the Cubs?
I agree he could become next year’s version of Jermaine Dye. But, he doesn’t have the defensive concerns that Dye had. Lee is still a fantastic defensive player and does not appear completely lost at the plate like Dye did the second half of last year. I’m sure Lee will find a place to play next year.
Jermaine Dye is this year’s Jermaine Dye because he had draft pick compensation attached to him. Lee won’t have to worry about that.
Dye was never offered arbitration.
mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/23-free-agents-offered-…
ya, how dare he exercise his right!!!!
SO MUCH ANGER!!!! It’s almost like he negotiated a contract with a team and is now making the team stick to it. He’s so sneaky and selfish….
As a Cub fan it makes my brain hurt that people don’t know why players do things like this. Thinking about it in terms of my every day life, would I be cool with someone uprooting me and my wife and shipping me somewhere else for a few months if I had an actual say in it? No, no I wouldn’t. There is more to life than what goes on on the field. These people have families and other considerations than hitting a baseball around. As much as I would really like for the Cubs to trade him, this is his right that he negotiated for himself and that the Cubs agreed to. I can’t blame him for this- I can only blame Hendry and the idiots that allowed Hendry to do this.
SO MUCH ANGER!!!! It’s almost like he negotiated a contract with a team and is now making the team stick to it. He’s so sneaky and selfish….
As a Cub fan it makes my brain hurt that people don’t know why players do things like this. Thinking about it in terms of my every day life, would I be cool with someone uprooting me and my wife and shipping me somewhere else for a few months if I had an actual say in it? No, no I wouldn’t. There is more to life than what goes on on the field. These people have families and other considerations than hitting a baseball around. As much as I would really like for the Cubs to trade him, this is his right that he negotiated for himself and that the Cubs agreed to. I can’t blame him for this- I can only blame Hendry and the idiots that allowed Hendry to do this.
Smells like Fred McGriff from many years back. I know he has a Full NTC, but saying he wants to stay and sit in this mud puddle supports the theory that he’s not very driven to win. He’s been very stubborn over the years on this. I hope Mr. Ricketts has told Spendry “No more NTC’s”. He may start hearing it from the boo-birds pretty quickly.
I don’t know if Derek Lee Smells like Fred McGriff, but he has always reminded me of him. Except right handed.
The Crime Dog and Lee don’t compare McGriff was way better then Lee at this point in his career.. I would love it if Lee was pulling a McGriff and exercising his NTC but McGrff waived it several days later.. hopefully Lee does the same thing.. Lee to the Giants for Kung-Fu Panda Cubs also send 30mil the the Giants … that would never happen so Lee to the Gaints for a low-level prospect.. Giants trade Lee to Seattle for David Aarsama Seattle sends Lee to the Marlins for Jorge Cantu, Jorge goes from Seattle to the Boston for Mike Lowell and Lowell retires… one hell of a trade there.. doesn’t make sense but i was bored… the Giants are the clear winners here…
I don’t know if Derek Lee Smells like Fred McGriff, but he has always reminded me of him. Except right handed.
Oh well, way to piss us off Derrek.
not just u guys.. me as a angel fan wanted him to come to Anaheim.. im sure he was also thinking of when Kendry comes back.. Stay in Chicago Lee have fun screwing around
not just u guys.. me as a angel fan wanted him to come to Anaheim.. im sure he was also thinking of when Kendry comes back.. Stay in Chicago Lee have fun screwing around
Well I would have told Lee fine, if you stay, you’ll sit on the bench while Colvin learns the position and see if he changes his mind.
Ya, that really sets a good example for prospective free agents in the future. Hey, let’s all go to Chicago where when we use the tools we have earned, we get benched automatically.
Right, like free agents would care about that if you threw a wad of cash in their face and handed out no-trade clauses like they were candy as Hendry does.
This likely has a lot to do with the fact that he has a disabled child at home in Chicago and he wants to be around to help his wife take care of him. Sometimes real life is bigger than a chance to play in the playoffs, believe it or not.
I’m a Cubs fan — and I can do nothing more than agree right here. I was going to say the same thing, but instead, I’ll just piggyback the guy who already wrote it. Next year he can aspire to sign on with a team that will have a better chance of sniffing the playoffs.
I’m a Cardinals fan and it sickens me that everyone here is blasting him when they don’t understand the personal issues that are impacting this situation. He’s earned the right to have a no trade clause and he’s exercising it for the benefit of his family. I applaud him for that.
I’m a Cardinals fan and it sickens me that everyone here is blasting him when they don’t understand the personal issues that are impacting this situation. He’s earned the right to have a no trade clause and he’s exercising it for the benefit of his family. I applaud him for that.
Lee can’t be away from his family for two or three months? Are you kidding? As Herm Edwards says, “You play to win the game!” What a McGriff move on his part. What a dog and that is a crime!
If Lee is truly a worthless player, the Cubs are not forced to keep him on the roster. But Lee has no-trade power, and has every right to exercise it. Lee is not in the military, that’s not a worthy argument…
There is absolutely nothing wrong with exercising your contract that you (or you had) negotiated. He is not you, he can do as he pleases, just like you could have allowed the trade if you were him…but we don’t live in fantasy land or MLB 2011.
If Lee is truly a worthless player, the Cubs are not forced to keep him on the roster. But Lee has no-trade power, and has every right to exercise it. Lee is not in the military, that’s not a worthy argument…
There is absolutely nothing wrong with exercising your contract that you (or you had) negotiated. He is not you, he can do as he pleases, just like you could have allowed the trade if you were him…but we don’t live in fantasy land or MLB 2011.
Yeah, what a crime to want to take care of your family and your daughter who has an illness. It really is just so selfish of him to think of his family first instead of putting that on the back burner to give up the exact rights he negotiated in his contract.
Glad we all have this in perspective.
Yeah, what a crime to want to take care of your family and your daughter who has an illness. It really is just so selfish of him to think of his family first instead of putting that on the back burner to give up the exact rights he negotiated in his contract.
Glad we all have this in perspective.
Lee has earned the right to exercise his NTC. The man has been a mainstay for years and deserves a little respect. Its not like trading him will improve the club, and Colvin or someone else can learn first base over the winter and in the spring.
Military people go for months at a time and this guy doesn’t want to go away for three months to have a chance to win a ring? Oh, wait, he already has one and the reason for his lack of effort this year is because he is set financially for life with no desire to WIN anymore. Just mail it in. Maybe Z was on to something jumping his @$$. Look at the replay of that whole inning and you will see both Lee AND Ramirez dogging it on the field. He could afford to hire five assistants for his wife with money in his wallet. Lee, take your 75 point drop and hit the pines.
you do realize he has a family and probably doesnt want to uproot them anywhere until he has to. He has a no trade clause and he has the right to use it. If you all are upset, be upset at Hendry for being the idiot that gave basically the entire team NTCs
yep, i think the anger should certainly be targeted at Hendry; and as i said before, more will come when Hendry (whose job security appears certain) hands Lee more money (say 3 years, $30M) next year. after all, why would he uproot the ailing family of a class act that has done everything right in a cubs uniform? it’s not like he has pressure to win a world series anytime soon.
you do realize he has a family and probably doesnt want to uproot them anywhere until he has to. He has a no trade clause and he has the right to use it. If you all are upset, be upset at Hendry for being the idiot that gave basically the entire team NTCs
Cubs need to dump payroll. They should trade Marlon Byrd to Atlanta for some ok but not great pitching prospects.
Cubs need to dump payroll. They should trade Marlon Byrd to Atlanta for some ok but not great pitching prospects.
This isn’t a matter of Hendry giving D-Lee a NTC. He’s a 10-and-5 guy, so he EARNED the right to refuse a trade. Yeah, it might not seem like a big deal to leave your family for three months, but his daughter is disabled, which makes it a much bigger deal for him, I would assume.
This isn’t a matter of Hendry giving D-Lee a NTC. He’s a 10-and-5 guy, so he EARNED the right to refuse a trade. Yeah, it might not seem like a big deal to leave your family for three months, but his daughter is disabled, which makes it a much bigger deal for him, I would assume.
What do you guys think Lee will do the rest of the year.. Over/Under 15+ GIDP from now til the last game of the season.. If Hendry was smart he would buy out the remaining amount on Lee’s contract.. now Lee is staying he should at least make some attempt to trade Ramirez.. Fontentot is far better defensively and better contact hitter too.. Ramirez and 14mil to Anaheim for a minor league pitcher and PTBNL he’s not worth much more.. either way the Anaheim Angels are not winning the AL WEST… as good as Dan Haren is Cliff Lee is at least 5 times better he’s a huge inning eater too.. Supposeidly Zambrano is on the trading block he can go to the Mexican league for all i care he just need to be off the Cubs.. again if Hendry was smart he would restructure Z’s contract so it only worth 1/8 of what it is now.. instead of 65mil it need to be worth maybe 800k and that’s pushing it
What do you guys think Lee will do the rest of the year.. Over/Under 15+ GIDP from now til the last game of the season.. If Hendry was smart he would buy out the remaining amount on Lee’s contract.. now Lee is staying he should at least make some attempt to trade Ramirez.. Fontentot is far better defensively and better contact hitter too.. Ramirez and 14mil to Anaheim for a minor league pitcher and PTBNL he’s not worth much more.. either way the Anaheim Angels are not winning the AL WEST… as good as Dan Haren is Cliff Lee is at least 5 times better he’s a huge inning eater too.. Supposeidly Zambrano is on the trading block he can go to the Mexican league for all i care he just need to be off the Cubs.. again if Hendry was smart he would restructure Z’s contract so it only worth 1/8 of what it is now.. instead of 65mil it need to be worth maybe 800k and that’s pushing it
Derek Lee’s daughter has a severe eye disorder, if I am not mistaken, so this seems like a perfectly reasonable exercise of a clause that was contractually agreed upon. Look, if you cannot exercise the clause, what is the point of it? Cubs fans, c’mon, stop dumping on a player who you praised for years. Some of you are so damn fickle…just pathetic. D. Lee has NEVER done anything to besmirch his name, the game, the Cubs…nothing! He has been a straight-up guy for the organization, always put in his time in the community, and look, he was loved for that in Chicago.
I grew up in a house where my dad was a Cubs fan from the N. side of Chicago; my mom a Sox fan from the S. side. I’ve always routed for both teams to win when I could, but I’ve completely drifted to the Sox over the years because of stuff like this. Reinsdorf, has supported his guys, to a fault, while the Tribune Co. could have carried less about loyalty. The Sox are run like a family; yes, sometimes a disfunctional family, but a family nonetheless. Now, with the Cubs under family ownership again, the fans through the one true family-oriented guy on the team under the bus.
The Cubs aren’t cursed; they are just continually self-destructive, and this is one example. Treat your players well, even when it doesn’t work to your immediate advantage, and it will work to your advantage in the long run. What did the Sox do when Thome wanted to play for a winner? They traded him for chumps, ate his salary, and gave him a shot — and Thome has widely praised the Sox in return.
Cubs fans, please show some respect for Lee.
Derek Lee’s daughter has a severe eye disorder, if I am not mistaken, so this seems like a perfectly reasonable exercise of a clause that was contractually agreed upon. Look, if you cannot exercise the clause, what is the point of it? Cubs fans, c’mon, stop dumping on a player who you praised for years. Some of you are so damn fickle…just pathetic. D. Lee has NEVER done anything to besmirch his name, the game, the Cubs…nothing! He has been a straight-up guy for the organization, always put in his time in the community, and look, he was loved for that in Chicago.
I grew up in a house where my dad was a Cubs fan from the N. side of Chicago; my mom a Sox fan from the S. side. I’ve always routed for both teams to win when I could, but I’ve completely drifted to the Sox over the years because of stuff like this. Reinsdorf, has supported his guys, to a fault, while the Tribune Co. could have carried less about loyalty. The Sox are run like a family; yes, sometimes a disfunctional family, but a family nonetheless. Now, with the Cubs under family ownership again, the fans through the one true family-oriented guy on the team under the bus.
The Cubs aren’t cursed; they are just continually self-destructive, and this is one example. Treat your players well, even when it doesn’t work to your immediate advantage, and it will work to your advantage in the long run. What did the Sox do when Thome wanted to play for a winner? They traded him for chumps, ate his salary, and gave him a shot — and Thome has widely praised the Sox in return.
Cubs fans, please show some respect for Lee.
Guess he’s happy with the one ring.
And I agree with the poster comparing him to Jermaine Dye.
Best of luck, Derrek.
Guess he’s happy with the one ring.
And I agree with the poster comparing him to Jermaine Dye.
Best of luck, Derrek.
I hope Giants pick him up in the offseason. He was born in Sacramento and was a Giants fan.
I hope Giants pick him up in the offseason. He was born in Sacramento and was a Giants fan.
If he didnt veto a trade and went to Anaheim for a minor league player and he didn’t hit they would have released him and then he would be out of a job that is more then likely the reason Scoscia wouldn’t take his lazy ‘tude .. then again Hendry would want him back and probably give him 5/90 to get him to stay… either way he’s not gonna be back next year. pretty much out of a job..
besides..he didn’t neogiate the 10 5 clause with the cubs, MLBPA and MLB did. Blame them not Derrek for exercising his right under that clause
The situation with Lee’s daughter isn’t as bad as originally diagnosed. She doesn’t have the disease that could have made her go blind within a few years. The doctor’s now believe there is very little chance she will go blind.Comparing yourself being transfered by your job at will vs a proffesional athlete is not an apt comparison. First you make what 30, 40, 50 K a year? Lee makes 13 million? Also, all professional athletes, when they sign a contract understand they could be traded to another team. It is part of the business. If you work for the ACME electric company for 30K a year, you cannot be asked to move to a new city every year with your family, it’s not feasible.Lee has 10-5 rights and he can block the trade BUT is this the best thing for his next contract? He plays out the string on a team not going anywhere vs going to a contender and helping them get to the playoffs? That can’t look good to teams evaluating him as a possible free agent pick-up.
All these B.S. comments about “real life” are ridiculous. When a person is receiving compensation in excess of most countries GDP, then that my friends MUST be their real life. To paraphrase Spider-Man: With great monetary compensation comes great responsibilities. These babies need to grow up and look themselves in the mirror. Derek Lee and all prima donna athletes need to understand that they are not being paid these exorbitant sums because they are good family men with moral courage. They are being paid to perform a job. MLB players are the luckiest in the world. They don’t have to worry about their contracts being voided if they don’t hold up their end of the bargain. If he actually had any moral courage, he would have sucked it up and helped the team that has been putting a roof over his family’s head for the past five years. Anything they could have gotten in return for this clown would have been a bonus.
It’s just another nail in the coffin of Derek “I am my own best hitting coach” Lee. Good luck somewhere else loser.
Baseball needs more people like Derrek Lee. Loyalty. You don’t see that anymore.
Loyalty to the team and a guarantee of at least 25-35 or more DPs in a season.. Worst #3 hitter in all of baseball including minor leagues of all levels..
Most of the idiots on this site make me ashamed to be a cubs fan! derrick has been one of if not the best examples of how a professional athlete should conduct themselves. hes had an off year, but what you jerks seem to forget is that normally hes a consistant hitter who plays above average to gold glove defense! AND HE HAS THE RIGHT TO VETO A TRADE IF HE WANTS!!!! I for one hope the cubs are able to keep him when his contract is up. the same idiots who are calling for colvin at first are the same ones who wanted hoffpauir to replace lee
Hoffpauir is better then Lee. Re-signing him if they want to get younger is not the answer. Ramirez needs to go too.
The man has millions of dollars and a World Series ring already. But he also has a wedding ring, and it’s great that he’s giving that some importance too. Just because people in the military have to be away from their family doesn’t mean that they prefer to be. The man has a choice, and he exercised his choice by vetoing the trade. Hiring five assistants for his wife is not the same as being there for her himself. Good for Lee. It’s good to see an athlete who realizes there’s more to life than sports.
good who cares…Ill speak for myself only…but let me be the first to say we dont need a .248 average or whatever he is…and his 12 or whatever homeruns..
it doesnt matter especially after today..
take a hike lee…your nothing special…have fun… (sad thing is i actually like the cubs and pinella)
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