5:05pm: Two teams told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that the Marlins thought they had traded Lee to the Yankees today (Twitter link). However, Lee wouldn't waive his no-trade clause. The sides were never close to completing a trade, ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes (on Twitter).
10:40am: The Marlins are trying to unload first baseman Carlos Lee, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. At this stage in his career, Lee is a low-power 36-year-old with little defensive value, so teams might view him as a right-handed bench bat. The Marlins added Lee earlier this month, with the Astros paying most of his $18.5MM salary.
JesseeA
Well, that panned out well for them.
Mikey Bohlinger
didn’t they just get lee…
slyfox1908
“It’s a huge move, I think, the front office, showing people how much we want to win. They show how much we care about winning this year, they showed the players that they’re willing to do anything to help this ballclub.”–Ozzie Guillen
sourbob
Comments should be closed after this. Because really, what else is there to say?
Javier Mejia
glad he didnt wanna come to the dodgers, loney is better, loney’s defense is too undervalued, unless the dodgers get a huge offensive upgrade loney should stay and only come back next year at 2-3 million as a backu.
Viral
why the hell they traded for him then
bigpat
Maybe someone will trade for him if there was a new rule that when he is up to bat, there is a pinch runner for him ready as soon as he makes contact.
sourbob
Sooo… what teams out there could use an aging, bat-only 1B who no longer actually brings his bat?
GoFish
This is the first thing the Astros have won in a LONG time.
Scott Boudreau
I guess the Pence trade isn’t ringing a bell?
monroe_says
upgrade on James Loney?
Javier Mejia
lmao, stop.
airborne
Oh those wacky Marlins. They love to sell, even if they have to trade for guys to sell.
JakeD
Lolololololololol
Todd Smith
I wouldn’t mind the Pirates picking him up to add to their bench. Sounds like he’s basically free at this point. Pirates could use some thump off their bench. It’s tough when Drew Sutton is the biggest bat to bring in at the end of a game.
bigpat
Presley and McGehee will be bench bats now, for what it’s worth…
Todd Smith
True…still wouldn’t mind adding a veteran power bat to the bench though. If not Lee, maybe somebody like a Jason Giambi in August.
bigpat
Giambi would be a pretty good addition to the bench, can probably be had for next to nothing as well.
Greatone1210
He’d be a good bench bat I think. Makes good contact but low on power lately. Probably would have to DFA Sutton or just do a swap.
Todd Smith
Or send Mercer or Harrison back down to AAA until September…Think there is plenty of room for some upgrades on that bench
Greatone1210
Good point. I think Mercer has potential but could use some more at-bats. And as much as I like Harrison as a person, he will never be more than a utility guy and does not add that much to the bench.
marinest21
C’mon Loria, please be cheap enough to “unload” Stanton as well.
Signed,
Every MLB team’s fans besides the Marlins
ARod's Ring
with Mark Teixeira now suspect. Yankees should acquire him.
karkat
Would Lee clear waivers, even with most of his contract being handled by Houston, do you figure?
Scott Boudreau
Makes you wonder why they traded for Lee at all in the first place.
Adam Rossi
I don’t think even the Marlins have any idea what they’re trying to do.
Matt Mundy
Tigers?
ERS
That’s what I’m thinking.
ERS
Because he approved his trade to the Marlins, has he now relinquished his 10-and-5 rights as a member of a new organization (no more -and-5)?
richardb21
No more 10-5 but he has a list of teams he can’t be traded to. Dodgers for example.
Gumby65
And he had no-say in trade to Marlins, so wondering how 10 & 5 is calculated, b’cuz it sure looks like he was 10 & 5 on the back of his bubblegum card (baseballreference).
Jeremy Swedroe
he had a clause waiving 10 & 5 rights
LifelongMets
He had a limited no trade clause
Gumby65
NOW I wonder if Lee accepts trade to LA. lol Just kidding as (his declining) power would be from RH side, and after Ethier, LA is getting RH heavy.
cedarandstone
RH, heavy. Perfect description of what he brings to the table at this point in his career.
Ron Loreski
The Pirates should flip Travis Snider to Miami for Lee.
sourbob
No.
Monkey’s Uncle
No. No. And finally, no.
Todd Smith
Better throw Marte and Cole in too, just in case Snider isn’t enough.
BrickTops
Dear Marlins,
All you have to do in order to get production out of Lee is put a bowl of Cheetos in the dugout.
Signed,
Astro Fan
P.S. we ran out of Cheetos so we had to trade him.
Don Coupons
That’s a pretty unflattering description of Lee in the post. The guy’s not exactly an impact player anymore, but he’s been a super consistent and underrated run producer for his whole career. He could be a big bench bat for a contending team if he’ll play that role and if they’re willing to pay for him.
Spit Ball
“Big bench bat” says it all.
rfffr
Diamondbacks could use him off the bench. Or Tigers could DH him
RiosFan
I an a white sox fan, but detroit could use him at DH. He is still a average, RBI guy
Spit Ball
Love those average and RBI guys….ohh yeah.
55saveslives
Hate to say it, but he would be an upgrade for the Giants. Belt hasn’t produced and Huff is hurt AGAIN in his first game back after being hurt celebrating then getting hurt in his rehab after getting hurt in his rehab.
It’s complicated.
MB923
Never knew Huff got hurt celebrating. I thought they all learned the Kendry Morales lesson already
davbee
“Marlins Trying To Unload Carlos Lee”
I’d recommend using a forklift.
GG 2
Lee: Said no to LA then no to NY! Have fun in the swamp, doofus!
jwsox
he has proved it over his career that he really does not care about winning, which is why the whitesox traded him in 05 he wouldnt hustle. He cares about his money and his stats
Oscar Santana
Apparently at this point in his career he prefers low pressure situations where he won’t need to push himself. As long as he has time to gobble down food and isn’t required to work it off its all good.
Shane McMahon
He did the same thing with the Astros…..this guy isn’t about winning. He’s collecting a check until it’s time to ride off into the sunset on his ranch.
camerondatzker
The SF Giants need offense, why not take a chance on Carlos Lee, He is a veteran that still can hit homers and rbis that’s what this team needs. Not Strike-outs from Brandon Belt.