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Sunday, July 01, 2012

Carlos Lee vetoes trade to Dodgers

Ed Wade is the gift that keeps on giving.

Houston Astros first baseman Carlos Lee said he will not accept a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, a source told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney.

While waiting for Lee’s decision, the Dodgers pulled out of the proposed trade earlier, sources told Olney.

Lee has a limited no-trade clause and his permission was needed to complete the deal.

One baseball official familiar with the discussions told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark that the Dodgers and Astros agreed on the framework of the trade before presenting it to Lee for approval. Although rumors have circulated about a 2-for-1 deal, the Astros would have received just one minor leaguer from the Dodgers. One name in play was right-handed pitching prospect Garrett Gould, who abruptly was scratched from his start Friday for Class A Rancho Cucamonga.

The official also told Stark the Dodgers would pay a significant chunk of the more than $8 million remaining on Lee’s salary.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 01, 2012 at 09:46 PM | 41 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: astros, carlos lee, dodgers, trade rumors

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1. Dangerous Dean Posted: July 02, 2012 at 10:38 AM (#4171163)

I know that he has lots of roots in the Houston area. But since he'd have a shot at the Series one last time, why NOT accept the trade? The Astros are putrid and that ain't changing. The Dodgers have a playoff shot if they can get some offense. Lee can't do much with a glove these days, but he can still hit; for average if not often for power any more.

2. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 02, 2012 at 10:57 AM (#4171186)

So far, these are the reasons I can see him vetoing:

1) He doesn't want to leave the Houston area
2) He doesn't want to move from the cozy confines of Minute Maid Amusement Park to the less hitter friendly Dodger Stadium
3) He doesn't want to be one of "the" guys on a team that's supposed to be eying October ball

3. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: July 02, 2012 at 11:02 AM (#4171191)

I mean, players are welcome to their values. I would think that most guys who've played in only one Divisional Series and no World Series would be happy for a chance to play some pennant race baseball for a couple months, with a chance for real glory, but if Lee and his family like their life in Houston, it's his call. That's why you get 10/5 rights in the first place.

4. PreservedFish Posted: July 02, 2012 at 11:03 AM (#4171194)

I know that he has lots of roots in the Houston area. But since he'd have a shot at the Series one last time, why NOT accept the trade?

Maybe he doesn't give a ####.

5. Tripon Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:30 PM (#4171322)

Lee doesn't have 10/5 rights, he gave that up in his current contract for a partial no trade clause(for 14 teams) that was active throughout the entire contract. There was rumors that if Lee didn't go to the Dodgers, the Astros would just find the first team not on the NTC and trade him for nothing.

6. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:34 PM (#4171327)

Alfonso Soriano is available.

7. Stretch Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:35 PM (#4171329)

And some people do not like to play the role of mercenary.

8. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:35 PM (#4171330)

What a weird contract clause to have.

9. The District Attorney Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:39 PM (#4171335)

Christ, James Loney is horrible. If the Dodgers can't get Lee, maybe they can bring Greg Brock back or something. Just get anybody.

10. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:43 PM (#4171342)

the Astros would just find the first team not on the NTC and trade him for nothing.

But how many other teams have GMs as stupid as Ned Coletti?

11. BDC

Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:44 PM (#4171344)

It's hardly as if he'd be uprooting his family for a three-month stint with the Dodgers, so I imagine this is a purely "baseball" decision. It's the last year of his contract, and he's headed either for an obscure retirement or starting spring training (maybe for an AL team as their designated ancient hitter) next year at a much lower salary. I reckon he just hates the idea of playing in LA. Highly-paid sluggers who don't immediately deliver there have been having it rough in the press lately ...

12. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:45 PM (#4171345)

Christ, James Loney is horrible. If the Dodgers can't get Lee, maybe they can bring Greg Brock back or something. Just get anybody.

You had your chance to get Jim Thome again.

13. Mayor Blomberg Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:45 PM (#4171346)

Tripon -- they can try that, but they need a team not in the NTC that's willing to pay about $9M for a replacement-level 1B/DH who's not happy to be there.

ETA:
McCoy -- the deal was he got a blanket NTC for the first four years of his contract in return for lowering the protection to 14 teams later on.

14. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:49 PM (#4171351)

I'd reckon All-Star Brian LaHair is available for the right price.

15. The District Attorney Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:49 PM (#4171352)

You had your chance to get Jim Thome again.

Or Youk!

Maybe Mattingly.

16. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:53 PM (#4171358)

It's hardly as if he'd be uprooting his family for a three-month stint with the Dodgers, so I imagine this is a purely "baseball" decision. It's the last year of his contract, and he's headed either for an obscure retirement or starting spring training (maybe for an AL team as their designated ancient hitter) next year at a much lower salary. I reckon he just hates the idea of playing in LA. Highly-paid sluggers who don't immediately deliver there have been having it rough in the press lately ...

Could be he's just comfortable. Likes the coaches, knows the clubhouse, knows how to get to the ballpark, knows his routine. Going to a whole new environment is a hassle some people just don't want to go through.

17. Spivey Posted: July 02, 2012 at 12:56 PM (#4171362)

It's incredible that a hitter as mediocre as Carlos Lee could help the Dodgers so substantially.

18. BDC

Posted: July 02, 2012 at 01:08 PM (#4171368)

Could be he's just comfortable

Good point. Sometimes we overlook the positive factors in such a decision. To most fans it would look as if playing for the Astros would be an unending nightmare, but there must be a lot of things to like about it on the absolute scale of things.

19. stanmvp48 Posted: July 02, 2012 at 01:09 PM (#4171370)

>Christ, James Loney is horrible. If the Dodgers can't get Lee, maybe they can bring Greg Brock back or something. Just get anybody.<

<You had your chance to get Jim Thome again.<

Should have kept Konerko.

20. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: July 02, 2012 at 01:16 PM (#4171381)

McCoy -- the deal was he got a blanket NTC for the first four years of his contract in return for lowering the protection to 14 teams later on.

I know and I think it is pretty weird. Most big moneyed free agents can and do get full no trade protection.

21. Tripon Posted: July 02, 2012 at 01:27 PM (#4171390)

Tripon -- they can try that, but they need a team not in the NTC that's willing to pay about $9M for a replacement-level 1B/DH who's not happy to be there.

I don't know, the rumor I heard is that the Astros would be willing to eat a big portion of the contract, just to #### Lee over.

22. Infinite Joost (Voxter)

Posted: July 02, 2012 at 01:47 PM (#4171405)

Carlos Lee cares a lot.

23. base ball chick Posted: July 02, 2012 at 02:10 PM (#4171419)

i heard 2 DAYS ago that clank said NO at the same time we were reading all the "carlos mulling it over" stuff. he has turned down every single trade offer before to teams that wre going to the playoffs. i would bet that the 14 teams he listed this year are all teams that don't won't need a DH or first baseman or won't pay

he has made it more than clear he does not want to leave houston no matter what. they tried to humiliate him into agreeing to get his salary dumped and no could do

24. GregD Posted: July 02, 2012 at 02:16 PM (#4171428)

I loathe Car-loaf but can totally understand why someone who is going to have to change teams at the end of the year would decide he'd rather stay where he is for the remainder of the season. Moving stinks. And he clearly won't be in the Dodgers long-term plans.

25. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: July 02, 2012 at 02:39 PM (#4171444)

This piece is five years old but it sounds like Carlos values his ranch work more than he values his baseball work. Who knows how much more he's grown attached to it since he first signed with Houston.

I for one admire this veto. The ranch makes him so happy he doesn't want to leave even for two months.

26. PreservedFish Posted: July 02, 2012 at 02:49 PM (#4171450)

Moving stinks.

It's not really moving, it's living out of a hotel 3 months instead of his usual 1.5 months.

27. GregD Posted: July 02, 2012 at 02:51 PM (#4171453)

This piece is five years old but it sounds like Carlos values his ranch work more than he values his baseball work. Who knows how much more he's grown attached to it since he first signed with Houston.

How crazy is it that this article mentions multiple times that he was on pace to surpass Rod Carew as the best hitter from Panama. Absurd. His best season would be about 8th on Carew's lifetime list.

28. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 02, 2012 at 02:58 PM (#4171458)

i would bet that the 14 teams he listed this year are all teams that don't won't need a DH or first baseman or won't pay

That's SOP now, you list the teams in your NTC as teams likely to want to acquire your services - contenders, large market clubs, so you can dictate the terms of your trade.

Although I bet the Pirates aren't on that list, and they could use a COF/1B type.

29. DL from MN Posted: July 02, 2012 at 03:00 PM (#4171460)

Carlos is more of a rancher who plays baseball for the money than a baseball player with a hobby farm. Maybe he couldn't find someone to help out with chores for a month.

30. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: July 02, 2012 at 03:14 PM (#4171473)

How crazy is it that this article mentions multiple times that he was on pace to surpass Rod Carew as the best hitter from Panama. Absurd. His best season would be about 8th on Carew's lifetime list.

He's behind Carlos Ruiz in career WAR if you use the system that gives him lots of negative dWAR.

Who else is from Panama?

Maybe he couldn't find someone to help out with chores for a month.

I'm imagining a big cattle ranch where all the employees are current or former Astros. And when I imagine that, the only possible right-hand man for Big Boss Lee is Tony Eusebio.

31. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 02, 2012 at 03:17 PM (#4171476)

Who else is from Panama?

Ben Oglivie, Manny Sanguillen, Bobby Kelly, Omar Moreno, Mo Rivera and of course Bruce Chen.

32. Steve Sparks Flying Everywhere Posted: July 02, 2012 at 03:26 PM (#4171489)

This piece is five years old but it sounds like Carlos values his ranch work more than he values his baseball work. Who knows how much more he's grown attached to it since he first signed with Houston.

The article says that Lee is of Chinese descent. Maybe China has found it's clean up hitter for the WBC?

33. I am going to be Frank Posted: July 02, 2012 at 03:35 PM (#4171501)

I assume the likelihood of Houston resigning him is close to zero. If he wants to keep playing he would have to go somewhere else. The only thing that makes sense is that he is retiring.

34. GregD Posted: July 02, 2012 at 03:45 PM (#4171515)

But the Dodgers won't resign him either, most likely.

So isn't he just as likely to be able to sign by playing out with the Astros. Given the friendly confines and his comfort level, isn't he in fact somewhat likely to increase his odds of signing with someone by vetoing the trade?

35. Cabbage Posted: July 02, 2012 at 04:34 PM (#4171549)

It's not really moving, it's living out of a hotel 3 months instead of his usual 1.5 months.

Which really sucks for some people. I think I'd hate it, personally. The only reason vetos dont happen more often is that you need to be a pretty competitive and driven person to even be in that position, and going to a contender would be a lot more attractive to that kind of person.

36. Srul Itza At Home Posted: July 04, 2012 at 08:39 PM (#4173200)

So now he's going to the Marlins instead.

37. zonk Posted: July 04, 2012 at 09:30 PM (#4173219)

What?!?!

I know his star has dimmed considerably, but the 'Stros got Matt Dominguez and more back for Lee?

38. The Yankee Clapper Posted: July 04, 2012 at 09:35 PM (#4173221)

So now he's going to the Marlins instead.

Who could resist the thrill of making the magical Marlins center-field home run display device go off? He probably agreed to a pay cut.

39. MNB Posted: July 04, 2012 at 09:51 PM (#4173227)

How about this classy line from Ozzie Guillen?

"He should blame himself," Guillen said of Sanchez's demotion (via Joe Capozzi). "We gave him plenty of opportunities."

40. Martin Hemner

Posted: July 04, 2012 at 10:26 PM (#4173249)

I know his star has dimmed considerably, but the 'Stros got Matt Dominguez and more back for Lee?

The Astros are paying almost all of Lee's salary, which may to help explain it.

41. base ball chick Posted: July 05, 2012 at 12:28 AM (#4173333)

someone please explain to me why matt dominguez is worth 8.5 million because i sure don't see a good BA, a good OBA or a good baserunner and a glove ain't worth all that.

and yeah i know about the A ball lefty they threw in who walks a lot of guys and has a medium K rate

but for 8.5 mill? REALLY?

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Sunday, July 01, 2012

Carlos Lee vetoes trade to Dodgers

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