Carlos Lee continues to draw trade interest from teams seeking right-handed hitters, Yahoo’s Tim Brown reports (on Twitter). Lee, a free agent after the season, can block deals to 14 teams.
For Lee to be eligible for another team’s postseason roster, he’d have to be on another club by tomorrow. He was on waivers earlier in the month, but it’s unclear if he was claimed. The Giants are among the teams currently seeking right-handed hitters.
The Marlins are responsible for paying Lee the pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary, while the Astros are covering the rest of his $18.5MM salary. The 36-year-old has a .278/.346/.388 batting line in 486 total plate appearances for the Astros and Marlins this year. He has spoken to Miami officials about the possibility of returning for the 2013 season.
The Marlins tried to move Lee at the trade deadline, according to multiple reports. The Yankees agreed to pay Miami $1MM in exchange for Lee, who blocked the proposed deal. The Marlins also tried to move Lee to Baltimore at the trade deadline, according to Jon Heyman. Lee blocked a potential deal to Los Angeles back in June.
jfretless
Lee on the Giants? …please no.
I don’t see it as a good fit. …and can he actually play in the outfield?
55saveslives
He played 80 gms in LF for Houston last season. Worst comes to worse, put Belt in LF. It’s not ideal, but Blanco, Christian, Peguero is an automatic out at the plate.
Mr. Boo
Blanco has been showing signs of life as of late. Plus, I think Bochy’s inclined to keep LF defensively sound. Given that, there’s no room for Lee unless he’s coming off the bench as a righty pinch hitter.
User 4245925809
I honestly don’t think he would approve a deal to SF. My2c? Arlington (rangers) back to houston and the Fish, or he is outta’ here next season.
His bat would be nice for the Giants, not sure where his glove would fit, he isn’t worth a flip anywhere defensively and his power isn’t that good anymore, but he drives in runs still and hits in the clutch.. Something many teams could use.
55saveslives
Yeah, he doesn’t seem to care about baseball anymore. Funny that he wouldn’t want to spend ONE month here haha…
User 4245925809
Here ya on that and same with the O’s and even NYY, but moreso with the O’s when he could have played every game as the DH in a playoff atmosphere for half a season.
SF offers what seems like a good option also, the area, population.. Just have to think of far fetched things like taxes, or maybe something nobody knows but lee himself.
One thing.. lee is sure being stubborn this year with regards to being moved.. 3 teams so far, counting the LAD have wanted him and been rebuffed.
AaronAngst
It seems he doesn’t care about playing *winning* baseball. I’m not a Giants fan, but I would think SF would be a premier destination for just about anyone, let alone a ballplayer making millions of dollars to play a game.
User 4245925809
Lee made it plain, several years back he didn’t want to leave Houston even and they have not been a winner as you know.
Houston has been unable this year, like since the non waiver deadline to trade Lee to the LAD, NYY and Baltimore, simply because Lee refused to go. Those are teams in the thick of the playoffs and Lee has made his millions (110m so far) and feels like at this point? he cares more about location and his own comfort more than anything.
it’s HIS personal choice where he wants to play, with losing teams or a chance to win and no amount of 2nd guessing on the part of fans will ever change that right he has earned.
AaronAngst
I wasn’t saying it’s not his right to reject moves to contenders. Doing so, however, is contrary to every instinct most athletes have, and the opposite of what is preached by the majority of coaches we’ve all had.
User 4245925809
Yeah.. Lee is one of those rare athletes who just cares more about being comfortable it seems and winning is secondary, or not even important. I don’t think he will be around next year myself if one of those teams does not sign him (Rangers,Astros, Fish) for 2013, or Lees actually has another team out there he would like to play for since he has already turned down 3 winners since July.
BLB25
Yea, the only scenario I can imagine is the Giants offering him some kind of financial bonus to entice him to come play here for the next 5-9 weeks and him thinking he can build more appeal to a team like the Rangers with a decent playoff showing. But even that seems unlikely. When defense is factored in he doesn’t seem like THAT big of an upgrade over Christian, Nady, or the also available Torres and I don’t think the Giants would go very far to try to convince a guy who doesn’t want to play here.
Daniel Stern
Arizona & LA will block CLee from getting to the Giants, just like Hairston was
MaineSkin
Lee to the #Orioles has no appeal while Davis and Reynolds are batting at a league avg…Plus we have Lou Ford!!!! os
BradyAndersonsSideburns
Lew ‘Buck only lets me play on Sundays’ Ford
Gothapotamus
Carlos is counting the days until he’ll be herding cattle full time. If he can block a waiver trade, he’s not going anywhere. Playoffs means actually playing more baseball.
davengmusic
Carlos Lee will only approve trades to teams that reside in states that have no state tax, AND the team must be outside of playoff striking distance. Otherwise, trade blocked.
BrickTops
That is not true, the Astros are paying his salary so the only “State Income Tax” will be on the one month of vet minimum the receiving team pays. So we are talking beans
I doubt that hold him up
UnknownPoster
look at Dodgers, Los Angeles
Gumby65
LA Checklist: 1.Competitive…Check 2. CA State Tax… Check. 3. Fortunate that Lee was selfish… Triple Check.
Guest 4226
False. It doesn’t matter where your employer is located, or in Lee’s case, team who is paying salary is located. It’s where the employee earns the money that determines in which state income is taxable. I’m a CPA.
elscorchot
personally, i think he is good for the marlins. stanton has bonded with him, and he can teach the young players how to think at the plate. no real reason to deal him, especially with the two sides talking about him coming back next season.
22deputydo33
i wonder how long it will be till we hear/read that teams stop giving no trade clauses to players. many have signed big name players to multiple year contracts,now that some want to trade certain players they cannot do it because of the no trade clauses.many might think that my feelings on no trade clauss is not so bright,but no trade clauses should not be put in a players contract. i feel many of the big name players are selfixh for not going to teams they do not wat to play for, there is always that big name player that just might put that team over the top.
Victor Kipp
The guy straight sucks any way. Who cares
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
I see a lot of “Oriole Types” flying around here, I hope Lee isn’t coming to “Charm” City.
camerondatzker
I think that Carlos Lee is not the player he was with The Houston Astros and his talent has gone down the tubes. I think that Carlos Lee is at end of his career. he’s an old 36 years old and his power is gone.