Derrek Lee accepts congratulations from Aramis Ramirez after a home run Sunday in St. Louis. (AP)
By Paul Sullivan
A dozen Derrek Lee jerseys were neatly folded and stacked up next to his locker Wednesday morning, but the Cubs first baseman was nowhere to be seen.
Lee declined to speak to the media concerning a Tribune report that a trade to Atlanta was in the works. He didn't come out to the field and was receiving treatment on his lower back.
Photo gallery: Derrek Lee in action
But the deal is done, with the Cubs announcing after their 5-1 loss to the Padres that they had sent Lee and cash to the Braves for three pitching prospects: right-handers Robinson Lopez and Tyrelle Harris and left-hander Jeffrey Lorick.
"A chance to go to the postseason, it's hard to pass up," Lee said in explaining why he agreed to waive his no-trade rights.
"Most people should be excited in the way we're moving forward," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said of the Cubs' sell-off of veteran players.
Citing major-league sources, the Tribune's David Kaplan first reported that a deal sending Lee to the Braves was close. One holdup has been Lee's bad back, which has kept him sidelined the last two games.
The trade was first discussed Sunday evening when the Braves called Hendry and inquired about Lee as a potential replacement for Chipper Jones, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
The Braves have received good production from Troy Glaus at first base, but announced that he will go on the 15-day disabled list to rest his legs for a week, then report to Triple-A Gwinnett to practice playing his former position (and Jones'), third
base.
As a 10-and-5 player, Lee could had the ability to reject trades, as he did an earlier proposal that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Angels. But Lee was OK with going to Atlanta because the Braves are in contention for a World Series berth.
Addressing the "so-called curse" affecting the Cubs, Lee said, "Having to hear about losing kind of puts you in a negative environment."
Asked if trading Lee would hurt the Cubs, outfielder Alfonso Soriano said, "Yeah, mentally. All those guys we traded are great guys and we feel like a family. So when you lose somebody like that it hurts you mentally."
The Cubs already have traded three members of the 2008 division-winning club -- Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot -- while releasing another, reliever Bob Howry. When Lee is gone, the Cubs likely will bring up Triple-A first baseman Micah Hoffpauir and platoon him with Xavier Nady.
Lee was asked Saturday about his decision to reject a trade to the Los Angeles Angels in the final week of July.
"First of all, when I made the decision, we weren't playing this bad," he told the Tribune. "I think I just separate it. I don't look at it like, 'Oh, I made the decision to stay, I wish I hadn't.' I made the decision, and that's over with, and this is something else."
Lee apparently decided Sunday that a trade to Atlanta would be beneficial, while one to the Angels would have been a detriment to his impening free agency. The Angels are on the periphery of a race, while Atlanta is in first-place in the NL East.
After the Milton Bradley deal, me and all my fellow GM's know better than to deal with Hendry. Besides, MB's deal was only 2 more years at a fairly reasonable rate. $17M per year for Soriano? LMAO!
Other 29 gms...
If one team can take Bradley off the Cubs then Hendry can get rid of anyone.
"Most people should be excited in the way we're moving forward," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said ...........
Since when have the Cubs ever "moved forward" ???
The only person that is excited by this move is Tom Ricketts, the under capitalized Cub owner who can't make ends meet. He realizes that people will continue to fill the ballpark no matter what is on the field.
He will also be excited to see fans shivering in the cold, next March, to buy tickets to see another season of bad baseball.
"He who has not learned from the past is doomed to repeat it"
For all of you calling to trade Zambrano, Soriano,
Fukudome, GET OFF THE CRACK PIPE! The only way these
vampires could be traded would be to eat their contracts.
Then they couldn't afford to replace them.
Sorry Cubs fans, but we aren't interested in Soriano, Ramirez or Zambrano. Not only would they put our teams over our budget but none of them are really very good and none of them have good attitudes. We're not stupid like Hendry.
Gee, Mike. I hate to burst your bubble, I DON'T have selective amnesia as I wasn't even aware this site existed until 08, so no, I wasn't ONE of the people you accuse as posting as Marlins fans. By the way, when are they going to erect a Bartman statue outside the "SHRINE?"
Disgusted... Your reply also tells me much. Why don't you just hop on the Braves bandwagon if you like Lee that much. I'll still root for my Cubbies. You are obviously a bigger Derrek Lee fan than you are a Cubs fan.
@ kurt Alot of Cubs have measured up for me. Kerry Wood, Ted Lilly, Andre Dawson, Marlin Byrd,Aramis Ramirez (overall), Greg Maddux,Mark Grace, Shawn Dunstin, Sammy Sosa (boombox and all),Moises Alou, Ryan Dempster, Reed Johnson,Jim Edmonds, even if it was one year provided good leadership. For now that is the best I can come up with
For the least 3 years K Wood and T Lilly, were my favorite Cubs. M Byrd is now my favorite Cub with Colvin and Castro not far behind. All fierce competitors. Ramirez I will give a pass on this year because overall he has been a great Cub.
You pointed out that I was a fairweather fan because I dogged Lee but remember I am siding with the Cubs organization on this trade. This team needs a overhall and start over. My loyalty lies to the team not players. For the record I watched my first Cub game in 77. I've seen alot of bad baseball and despite that I am still proud to admit I am a Cubs fan.
the Cubs now are "one or two years away?" You are as delusionally as Hendry. Look at the "great" rookie pitchers now in the clubhouse. The best ERA is 4.70....in a relief role. That is awful. And who else do is there in young talent--2 players, Colvin and Castro. They will be lucky to win a division title in 5 years if Hendry is in charge. Wait, make it 10 years since Hendry is selecting the next manager.
With the trade of Lee, the trades of Fontenot, Lilly, Theriot, a few others, plus the way the Cubs are playing right now makes me think, can't this SEASON JUST BE OVAH? ENOUGH STRESS AND WASTEFULNESS. THIS IS ALL A JOKE. Well, at least the SUCKS are doing bad as well.
Or better yet, since nothing good is going to happen the next couple years with the team: WHY DON'T THE CUBS JUST FOLD FOLD FOLD FOLD. FIRE ALL THE FRONT OFFICE, TRADE EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM, GO SELL WRIGLEY FIELD, PACK UP AND LEAVE TOWN AS IF THIS MESS NEVER HAPPENED.
THIS IS WHY I DON'T HEAVILY ROOT FOR CHICAGO SPORTS TEAMS
BLECH!
Good chance that the Yankees or Phillies will go after Fukudome before Aug 31 deadline.
Good chance that the Cubs might see two division clinching titles at the end of the year. San Fran, Cards and Padres last games we play.
This is now Marlin Byrd's clubhouse, and I am happy for this...he is a great example for young players, on and off the field, and I hope he can help guide these young pups as professionals and passionate players. Derrek Lee didn't always show his emotions, and a captain sometimes has to feign it to get the most out of his teammates. That is his job, besides just driving in runs...leaders lead, they don't just play. Good luck, Lee...now all you babies clamoring for Hoffpair for two years get your wish...the Cubs are one or two years from contending again...but go ahead and jump off the bandwagon if you don't want to be a part of a growing process...and these young guys like Castro and Colvin WILL grow...
"Most people should be excited in the way we're moving forward," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said of the Cubs' sell-off of veteran players.
At least we know when Jim Hendry shows up to work drunk. Just like Dubya Bush, whenever he opens his mouth we're bound to hear something completely ridiculous.
Let's get real, you want to bring up Bartman so, wouldn't that be like White Sox fans posting as Marlins fans on Cubs board during that playoff series? You do remember that right or did you forget because of your selective memory. The sudden influx of Marlins fans, I mean White Sox fans. Sox fans aren't above pulling garbage like that.
About time to get rid of grandpa Lee. GREAT MOVE
"Most people should be excited in the way we're moving forward," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said of the Cubs' sell-off of veteran players.
Does the drug testing policy apply to GMs?
FIRE HENDRY...BEAT IT ALREADY....
CubsTalk--
No question that lineup strikes fear into the heart of every Class A pitcher....and only Class A pitchers. Settle in for at least 3 years of pathetic baseball by the team in the 3rd base dugout. Look at the rookie pitchers--the "best" ERA is 4.70....yeah, Hendry should be traded with lots of cash thrown in.
Well, DLee can finally try to hit in good weather. Now, let's hope the big salary purge continues with ASham, the Big Zzzzz, Sorry-iano, and Nagy Nady following EThree out of town ASAP. EAMUS CATULI!!!
Cubs 2011 lineup:
Fukudome -RF
Castro - SS
Colvin - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
Byrd - CF
Soriano -LF
Soto -C
DeWitt -2B
Hey Braves fans, we'll trade our old broken down retiring manager for yours how about it.
Wow! Christmas came early this year!
Leave it to a typical Sox fan, questioning the class Cubs fans have but they bring up Bartman for the millionth time. Good job, keep beating that dead horse a little more.
This is me doing the chop in late October... "wooooo oooo ooo ohhhh Oooooo o ooohhh o"
Do it for Bobby!
@bhawks61
Ah, now we're talking like civilized adults instead of petulant 5th graders.
I think you're mistaking 'showing up (ok, pretty much) every day, not whining constantly' for 'not caring,' but we can disagree to disagree. I actually agree with you on the whole 'managers' issue, but answer me this: has ANYONE in the last decade (i.e. in the post-Sandburg era 'measured up' in your eyes? If you're going to pile on Lee, then your standards for model baseball players are way, WAY out of whack with REALITY.
And don't assume you've been on the hook longer than I have, I was in the bleachers when Rick Sutcliffe won his first game at Wrigley as a Chicago Cub, so I'd say I've been around long enough to comment. This is my last post on this subject.
Let's get real, it makes complete sense you're a Sox fan, Sox fans get all giddy and practically cream themselves when they know they have a Cubs board to post on. Clueless when it comes to your own team since you're too busy concerning yourself with what the Cubs do. Pathetic.
If only Sorryano could be traded. This will free up a whole lot of cash to sign good young players.
Let's get real, you're a Sox fan? Now it all makes sense.
Hey at least rebuilding won't be as bad on this team for there is lots of money to be spent once we get rid of all of the high pay rolled players off the books. Hopefully it would be spent on some quality starters. We don't need power hitters on this team, and please do not mention getting Adam Dunn on this team. We had enough strikeout artist on this team already. Even if he can hit 40 or more homeruns, he also can strikeout an awful lot too.
Well at least Derick Lee will go to a team who is willing to win, and go far in the playoffs. I was nice having him here in Chicago, and he will always be remembered as a first class person. The Cubs needed to make this trade for this will help them build up there pitching staff with hopes that there rotation for next season will look a lot better then people think. Now what the Cubs need to do id trade Carlos Zambrano, and hope we can get a couple of solid hitting prospects in return. This team needs to rebuild with younger players who will provide the excitement this city needs. Derick, you are going to do great in Atlanta. Thank you for the years you spent here in Chicago. I wish you the best.
Why couldn't it be Soriano??? Well Cub fans...get ready to be like the Pirates for the next 10 years. Rebuilding mode.
Well at least Derick Lee will go to a team who is willing to win, and go far in the playoffs. I was nice having him here in Chicago, and he will always be remembered as a first class person. The Cubs needed to make this trade for this will help them build up there pitching staff with hopes that there rotation for next season will look a lot better then people think. Now what the Cubs need to do id trade Carlos Zambrano, and hope we can get a couple of solid hitting prospects in return. This team needs to rebuild with younger players who will provide the excitement this city needs. Derick, you are going to do great in Atlanta. Thank you for the years you spent here in Chicago. I wish you the best.
Why couldn't it be Soriano???
Let's get real on August 18, 2010 7:04 PM
TO, before you start slamming Braves fans you could say the same thing for 80% of the Wrigleyites.
So off the top of your head you have all the stats on these three prospects right? You don't have to look it up? Yeah that's what I thought. That crickets chirping sound is really loud.
THE CUBS HAVE GIVEN UP DERRICK LEE FOR MORE GARBAGE
WHO CAN'T PITCH THEIR WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG!!! THE CUBS WILL NEVER,NEVER,EVER GET ADAM DUNN!! NOR WILL ADAM DUNN EVER COME TO CHICAGO!!! ADAM DUNN IS TOO "SNOBBISH" TO EVER COME TO CHICAGO FOR ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY!!!! NONE OF
THE BIG NAME PLAYERS WILL EVER COME AND PLAY HERE FOR
THE CHICAGO CUBS(THE BIG NAME PLAYERS ARE TOO "SNOBBISH"
TO PLAY FOR THE CHICAGO CUBS!!!)RANDY JOHNSON,JAKE PEAVY,
EDWIN JACKSON,PRINCE FIELDER,AND ADAM DUNN ARE IN THIS
GROUP!!! I WISH DERRICK LEE NOTHING BUT "BAD LUCK" WITH
THE BRAVES!!! I WISH I COULD ATTEND THE 3 GAMES THIS WEEKEND!! I WOULD "BOO" DERRICK LEE EACH AND EVERY TIME
HE COMES UP TO BAT IN THAT ATLANTA BRAVES UNIFORM AND I
WOULD ALSO "BOO" DERRICK LEE WHEN THEY ANNOUNCE HIS NAME IN THE ATLANTA BRAVES LINEUP!!!I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY!!!! DERRICK LEE IS A TRAITOR
AND SO IS MARK GRACE!!!!!!
Did Jim Hendry really say "most people should be excited in the way we're moving forward?" If this is moving forward, I'd hate to see what a slide looks like. I just sold my Cubs tickets that I had. If I wanted to see a minor league team, I would go to Peoria. But you guys can see a good AA team at Wrigley for the highest ticket price in the country if you want. Or you can do what I did, pis$ on Tom Ricketts and the Cubs. It feels much better.
Waiting for the Braves fans to post on here, Cubs fans you're going to love (insert prospect's name here) even though they have no clue who the Braves traded to the Cubs.
bhawks is a jerk. Lee acts like he doesn't care? based on what? Are you in the dugout? Are you in the clubhouse? I see nothing wrong with his effort on the field. No his numbers were not the best. But you have no basis for the comments about his character. Your letter says more about you than him
And the love affair between Chicago and Atlanta continues.
Der Coach--you do realize DLee already has a ring--beating the mighty Yankees in 2003. That was the year future Hall of Famer Kerry Wood wet his pants in Game 7 of the NLCS.
Let's see who the Cubs sign next year before we judge this trade. There were no garuntees that Lee would come back after Hendry tried to move him the first time. This team needs to slash payroll and develop the farm. The Cubs are currently 21 (50-71) games below 500 tell me how keeping an aging Lee helps this team? He obviously didn't this year.
Some of you guys make it seem like we just lost Jesus. We unloaded a guy who was batting .251 with 16 HRs and 56 RBIs this season. A guy who has seen his better days and was in the last year of his contract, a contract that most fans hoped would not get renewed. Sure he was a classy guy but it was time for him to go. This is a business. Let me ask you, if I told you that the Cubs were not going to win anything with D-Lee at 1B, how many of you would be broken up about it if he were traded. Well that's the case here. This team's window of opportunity is closed and past. They have to retool. Unloading Lee, while a fan favorite (I don't really know how since he basically did nothing this year - and he was healthy), is part of a process to improving this team. Those of you who can't figure that out are just the kind of losers that other team's fans are calling out. This team this year was a 135 Million dollar bloated bag of crap. They completely underperformed and played with absolutely no emotion. And yes, Lee as a so called leader is culpable as he basically did nothing to energize this team. I wish him the best but it's time to move on. At least now we can see someone else ground into DP or strikeout in critical situations from the 3 hole.
What a day from he** this has been. Favre decides he's returning to the Vikings and DLee gets traded, oh yeah, Cubs lose again but since when is that anything new.
Seems anyone who gets into a fight with Zambrano gets traded during that season. Please keep all prospects away from Carlos (lol). Actually Lee wasn't going to resign with the Cubs nor did the Cubs want to bring him back. 1. Decreasing run production, 2. Back issues, 3. Age, 4. Hefty free agent contract. In all honesty if one of the pitching prospects pans out it will be a wise trade from a GM who has done nothing but spend money on poor choices. D. Lee played some good baseball here unfortunately those games were with the Marlins. He will probably end up as a DH as the back issues mount and his defensive skills erode. Don't feel bad Cubs fans he leaves a millionaire. I wish we are were in the same boat.
When have the Cubs ever been on top Kurt. 103 and counting and I am still a fan. A fan longer than you probably been alive. I root for the name in front of the jersey. (Cubs) You root for the name in back of the jersey (Lee) and you question my fanhood? Not very bright. Even after you little blast the only meaningful thing I can grasp from your post and the smartest thing you did was to reverse your take on Lee's effort. I never liked Lee. Good glove, pretty good hitter but a guy that just acted like he didn't care and that poison infiltrated into the entire clubhouse. Team captains set the tempo for the rest of the team. People give too much credience to manager's being the big difference. I argue it's the players. Any more backtracking you want to do?
class act, but nothing much left in the tank.
Tyrelle Harris has very good potential.
Quite the measured, reasoned discourse from bhawks61, there. Another fairweather fan (I wonder if his tag was 'wsox05' until a month or two ago) who loves them when they're on top, but is all to anxious to pile on when times are tough.
OK, maybe Lee DID phone it in a few times, I'll give you that much, but he certainly didn't conspire to tear our hearts out and step on them like Ramirez/Soriano/Zambrano have as of late.
Jordan Hendry of the Blackhawks would be a better GM than Jim.
Thanks D Lee for all the effort, class, professionalism, offense, and defense. We fans will miss you. You deserve a shot at the World Series, and I hope you get it. Best of the best to your family as well.
Thanks D Lee for all the effort, class, professionalism, offense, and defense. We fans will miss you. You deserve a shot at the World Series, and I hope you get it. Best of the best to your family as well.
Such high hopes in the spring and then the same old crash and then housecleaning. I still believe in "wait til next year". The Cubs will be heavenly in 2011ly!! Bless you my man Ernie. And Ron and Billy too!
Great! Now Hendry can go out and get another Soriano! Come on, this guy has made bad decisions for years, its time he goes along with Soriano. Look at lilly in LA 3-0 1.28ERA? Atleast we have Zombrano, who has a huge salary with the least amount of win in the majors from a number 1 starter in the rotation..Gee...only if every game was opening day! Im soooo tired of this stuff.
I like cake!
go cardinals, go sox.............
Atlanta gets a veteran while the Cubs get 3 unknown pitchers who probably will never pitch for the Cubs, brilliant move Hendry, just keep proving to everyone why you absolutely suck as a GM. Cubs suck too they'll never win a World Series ever. I don't want to be a Cubs fan anymore.
I'm a Sox fan and have just lost the only Cub I like, so good luck with your new team D. Lee. I hope they appreciate you more than some of these Cubs fans do.
I hope Lee and the Braves go far in the playoffs, thanks for being a great Cubby for some years...
I love Derek Lee
Yes Please! trade more get rid of all these scrubs I mean Cubs. Next Fukudome, Zambrano, Soriano...anyone? please take them, please.
in his presser he talked about how disappointed he is that they "didn't get it done", i.e. win a championship...no sweat, DLee, you've got lots of miserable company, including everyone who's worn the scarlet C for the past 100+ years...
Hey Hendry - you can watch the Lake County Fielders and the Schaumburg Flyers if you need to pick up some more prospects.
Hmm. When he was offered a trade to a team, the Angels, that had little chance of making it to the playoffs, and whose currently injured 1st baseman will probably come back and prevent his (Lee's) being resigned, his family's interests were paramount. But when offered a trade to a team, the Braves, who is in first place and whose 1st baseman may not come back for next season, his family is not so important. Duh, I'm a Cub fan; I'm too stupid to read between the lines. Thanks for the insult, Derek.
I wont come to Chicago unledd Jim Hendry gaives me a 9 year 70 Million contract! Just Sayin!!
As a Cubs fan for more than 55 years I have to say that I am sorry to see Lee go. Those excessively bitter comments and negatives on line surprise me since Lee has always been a fan favorite and a decent human being, unlike some players who have bad mouthed the fans in recent years - Milton what was his name?
Maybe the "fans" deserve to be be bad mouthed. What have you done for me lately?, is clearly the current Cubs fans' mantra. Oh well, you can't please everybody. Ernie Banks would be in trouble nowadays since HE didn't get to the Series EVER, so it must be his fault. Geez, grow up.
Oh yeah, and remember, those prospects could turn out well -- I am also a Tigers fan and am loving Sherzer, Jackson and Coke for Granderson!! And I loved Granderson, the Chicago native!!
Sign up Fielder!
I forgot,who else is going to ground out into douple plays now that i am gone!!!
Derrek's terrific defense will be missed sorely. He scooped probably 4 errant throws out of the dirt per game which will likely now be errors/runs/more losses.
Well, I would have loved to play one more year for a team that never held me accountable and gave me a break this year for my lousy play. Thanks Lou for saying that I am entitled to have a bad year because I dont think Larussa or any successful manager would had said that about a team captain. To all the yuppie Wrigley fans, thanks for your support, because of you, we continue to pack the seats to see one heck of a ball team.
Lee seriously underperformed most of the year, but he will be missed. Despite the "don't let the door hit you on the way out comments", he truly deserves kudos for helping the cubs get into the playoffs during the recent past. I can't forget his MVP type year, but that was then. The only problem I have with a firesale and rebuilding year in 2011 is that we have a mediocre minor league system and a leadership that's even more mediocre in evaluating talent.
BGHockeyNut: Have you forgotten Marlon Byrd, who's an all star that has been great this year? How about Ted Lilly, who was signed just over three years ago? He also managed to rectify his Milton Bradley mistake and get a 10 game winner (I don't give a lot of credit for that working out, but if you can blame him for signings that are bad only in hindsight he should get the benefit of hindsight as well). He has not been a good GM, but he helped build a Cubs team that made it to the playoffs in back to back years which had not happened in a long time before that.
Wow he won't have far to go with the Braves coming into town Friday! I hear he requested to shower in the nicer Cubs locker room.
Jim Hendry trying to match wits with me is like going to a gunfight with a dull knife.
Does two ex-Cubs count as the ex-Cub factor? Now it's Derrek Lee and Kyle Farnsworth on the Braves...
It's a hell of a 51st birthday present the Cubs have given me...with all the house cleaning, Hendry needs to go too. I'm sure his salary is high and his performance equally under-whelming as is Zambrano's and Fukodome's. We're the laughing stock of the league...as usual.
Any player who made an error in the second inning of game 2 of the 2008 playoffs against the Dodgers should be traded before the end of this year. If you're a Cubs fan, you know who those four players are. Two of them are now gone, but there are still two left.
The Cubs paid the current stars hundreds of millions of dollars, and in return they won exactly zero playoff games. Zero. I still can't believe it. I say get rid of all these guys and let's start from scratch. We're going to suffer for the next couple of years, but it won't be near as bad as we suffered the last 4 years.
He was a fan favorite and will be missed.
1 down, 1 to go. Ram.
Whoever goes this year, just wave goodbye. HOWEVER, PLEASE BREATHE SOME LIFE INTO THIS TEAM FOR NEXT YEAR or we'll be back to the loser mentality of the past. That will result in a park full of empty seats come next summer. Just can't watch this mess another season.
Well Ive just heard it will be 2 above average prospects in the low levels plus salary relief. Good for the cubs. Now we can sign Dunn or Pena. Thanks Derrek for your time here and you will always be one of my favorite cubs. Hey cub fans look at it this way. The cubs totally sucked this year BUT we will get a top 6 overall draft pick and are minors are being improved therefore look to see another 97 win campaign just the team is only younger! :)
Good for Lee if he ever wants to play in another World Series...which is always true for anyone wearing the red "C" on their helmet...
OK, I stand corrected. We don't have any pitchers to bring up and help us either. My Bad.
Hendry seriously needs to be fired after the season...this team is turning into an absolute trainwreck and this has to be the WORST franchise in all of sports, how it's being run, their management, players, farm club, etc. Yet people still keep seeing these guys at that Old Style beer garden.
What an absolute atrocity and he gets AA players back? You honestly think these minor leaguers he's getting are going to pan out? Good luck Jim. Start updating your resume now!
DLee should run, run fast, and get the hell out of Wrigleyville when the traded is final. Hopefully, DLee will tell the baseball world about us and they send help. EAMUS CATULI!!!!!!!!!
Can I get a discount on my remaining Cubs season tickets since they are saving so much money by dumping players? The product on the field in August is not what I paid for in January. I love paying $20,000 a year to watch a team quit half way through the season while the owner tries to cut salary. Cut for what? He already has my money.
So I was OK when Lee used his veto power to veto a trade to the Angels giving us the excuse of his family and wanting to stay here in Chicago. But a month later, he's now willing to forego his veto to get traded to the Braves?
NOw I"m pissed. A Lee trade a month ago would have saved the Cubs a few more million dollars and would have netted the Cubs a better return package in a deal. But he used the family and wanting to stay here in Chicago excuse. But the fact that he's going back on that is just ridiculous and he has screwed Hendry and the Cubs on his way out.
I know the Angels aren't in it now but they were a month ago and would have been the trade that probably got us the best in return. Today, we'll probably get the salary relief and the customary PTBNL.
Well good riddance. Lee is has been horrific this year and has in multiple years screwed the Cubs because of his "slow" starts. He had only one great year here and my biggest memory of him will be how he prevented the Cubs from going to the Cubs as a member of the Marlins in '03.
He never stepped up and took on a vocal or even examplary leadership that this club desperately needed. I'm glad he'll not be a Cub next year.
Not a Cubs fan but Lee has always seemed to be a good ballplayer and a good teammate... Good for him... Hope it works out! Just do everyone a favor.. and take 5 minutes and kick Big Z's butt before you leave!!!
Time for Adam Dunn. Exit Hendry.... Brenly for GM?? (Why? See his World Series ring.) Exit Big Z Fonzy and Koske, go with youth and a couple of PROVEN free agent pitchers- one starter and one short reliever PLEASE!!
good for d lee and all the best of luck to him. he deserves so much more than what this organization has to offer in the short and long term.
We can rest assured that Hendry will not get anything of value for Lee because he is too stupid to do so. He is one of the worst GM's in the game.
I agree with you BG hockeynut , Fukedome, Rameirz and especially that overpaid bum Sorryano should be gone and take Jim "I never saw a washed up old free agent that I couldn't sign for an extra 100 mil that NOBODY else would" Hendry. Oh, and I have been a fan since 1955 but I have given up on these overpaid, over the hill old bums.
Wouldn't that be ironic. The year before he becomes a Cub, he wins a championship with the Florida Marlins. Now, he may wind up on a pretty good Atlanta Braves team. In between, during his Cubs experience, two quick exits. Good luck, if the trade does happen, Derrick.
"Go Bravos on August 18, 2010 2:30 PM
Good Lord, some Cubs fans are stupid."
Who are the Bravos?
85% of the team should be traded, the other 15% are mediocre.
Good Lord, some Cubs fans are stupid.
He will just reject it again. Why not just release the guy and eat his remaining salary? He is totally worthless anyway.
At least Derrick gave us a goodbye present, sticking it to the Cardinals over the weekend.
I'll miss you, Derrek, but I'm glad you'll be going to a playoff-bound team.
The Cubs had better go out and get themselves another quality first baseman in the offseason. Xavier Nady and Micah Hoffpauir aren't going to cut it. I hope they won't overpay to bring someone in who's past his prime, as they've done so often in the recent past.
Bye bye. Any way we can package Ramirez, Soriano Fukudome (oh, and BTW take Jim Hendry too...please!) for a bag of baseballs?
This isn't a trade...it's getting rid of dead weight that shouldn't have been signed to long term contracts anyways.
Hendry is the master of bad signings. Anyone wanna comment on ONE decent player he has signed recently (like in the past three years?). Get rid of the GM as well. He can't even get a decent prospect when he trades one of the Cubs. That's great on his part. Maybe we get yet another Double A player that will never amount to a hill of beans...or a player that is worse than what we already have.
50+ year Cubs fan who has had it with this team. Losers forever!
Angel,
I have 20 years on you my friend, and I have to tell you that saving someone becuase they're a fan favorite or "classy" guy is bad baseball management. D-Lee is passed his prime. "Starting slow" in the 1st third of the season because "he's always been that way" is a indicator of old age creep. Let him go and wish him well.
In reagrds to your comment about Fielder, forget it. The Cubs are obviously rebuilding their entire infielding core with a youth movement (stating with Castro). It's just too bad that Rami will simply exercise his contract, because he is next in line on the out parade.
PS. Stever, you're not a fan, you're a fair-weather fan. You only come around when the Cubs are winning. Do us all a favor and stay away, permanently. I've been to a number of games this year and each one is better than the last becuase ticket prices are finally reasonable (ie. face value). It's a perfect time to catch a game, teach you kids how to record a scorecard and WATCH the game (not talk on the damned phone).
Perhaps if you went to the game w/o expectation, you might enjoy it more.
if the prospect is a loser, then we know this is one of those trades done without a rudder under the boat; maybe the prospect will be like Aardsma or McGehee--two Hendry let go for nada...what did we get for Pie again? Let's see keep Pie, don't get Fukedome or Nady; that's enough to have gotten a pitcher like Cliff Lee or Oswald. This mess of bad dominoes has taken away quite a bit hasn't it over the years since Hendry scord with Lee/Ramirez who were salary castoffs to begin with
if Braves and Dodgers make playoffs we can pretend....
I love the cubbies win or not, been a fan since a young kid in the early 80's and eventhough Lee hit that hr against us in that Bartman series when he was w/ Fla he is the best 1st baseman and classiest since one of my fav players of all time Mark Grace, any 1 agree? Hendry must persue Prince Fielder this winter...
Cubs are a dead team. What does it matter whether they get a good deal or a bad deal. Just more soap opera either way. They could get the best guys in the league at every position and we would just have to be witness to the impossible reality that they all go belly up, hitting 200, pitching 7+ era, and making errors at the ususal record pace.
Good or bad (applies equally to deals, players, coaches, manager, owner, take your pick) the results are always the same. The only variance is how much hope they build before they crash and burn.
I've been a Cub fan since 1960 but I haven't paid for a ticket in over 10 years. It's probably been over 20 years since I bought anything at the ballpark other than a ticket. I'm still a Cub fan. I just don't watch the never-ending slo-mo train wreck anymore.
I sometimes turn on the game for an inning or two just for laughs. Or if I'm in the car I might turn on the game on WGN to check up on Pat & Ron. Sometimes I'll read a news report like this. More than that, just isn't warranted.
We never do well in trades with the Braves. Prospects that don't pan out or pitchers who disappear off the radar before the ink is dry on the deal. DLee had some great years with the Cubs. Thanks for all you did. This year was an aberration. Best of luck to you and your family moving forward.
How bad are the Cubs' minor league 1B if we're going to see a Nady-Hoffpauir platoon? You're telling me there's no one on the farm who has more potential than those two?
Knowing Jim Hendry the Cubs will get garbage in return for Lee.
Anybody that opposes Lee being moved is a complete idiot period. The guy flat out didn't care. If you morons would "actually" watch a Cubs game instead of drinking and chatting on your cell phones you would see his indifference in his demeanor and performance. You fools do know that he has regressed right? This shows that the Cubs are pursuing a real competitor playing 1B next year. This team needs a fire lit and a team is only as good as the team leaders on the field. Lee was a terrible leader and I hope he never resigns as a Cub.
I think the trade may help us hold off the Phillies. Hope his back holds up.
GOOD RIDDENCE! Tell Dopey Lee if he needs a ride to the airport I'll be glad to take him there myself. I hope this is not just a rumor. I don't want my hopes to be squashed. I am so glad when he is gone.
Trade Hendry and Loco Zambrano. Keep Lee.
Goodbye Derek and thanks for the most part to a very good career here. Everyone knows the cubs were not going to resign him and it is doubtful he would resign with the cubs, so it is time to let him go and see if Micah can do the job, if not they know they need a 1B in the off-season.
Derek was a class act and a welcome site compared to the prima donnas that are playing in this league now. Wish the best to you and your family.
As nice and a good teammate as he has been...It is time to rebuild, obviously.
Him not waiving is no Trade told me this guy officially became a paycheck player.
I wish SORIANO was the one getting traded. He plain sucks and get paid too much.
Just hope Zambrano, Soriano, Fukodome and Ramirez are next. All overpaid underachievers. Castro, Wells, Soto and Colvin are our future. Get a new GM, new manager and new players. Cubs need a new slate.
Maybe we should send the new owner to the Braves. So far we've been
snookered in all of our recent trades.
SAD
Sad,sad day.The cubs better do something MAJOR this offseason or I will never support this clown operation ever again.
When the Cubs might have got a something a little decent for him, he squelched the deal saying he wanted to stay in Chicago. Now all they'll get is some slug who Hendry will puff up as a prospect, but who will never make it out of Peoria, and a small salary dump while Lee gets rewarded with a probable trip to the playoffs? Honor his original wish and let him rot with this wretched team, preferably on the bench resting his back.
I think a changing of the guard is needed in Chicago as much as I like Lee. It just seems like some of the vets have gotten fat paychecks and have grown comfortable. That isn't to say they don't want to win. I think they really do. But there hasn't been a sense of urgency with these guys for a long time. They just don't appear to have any real drive or hunger. They've almost accepted mediocre. That may or may not be true. It is my perception and I fully recognize I could be way off. The culture of the Cubs isn't a culture of winning and confidence. It doesn't seem to set a tone of success. The Cardinals are a complete opposite team. They have a culture of going out and doing their business and the business is winning. Cubs need to get there. It starts at the top though as well. Hendry is a decent GM, but seems like he is at the end of his string.
Erock
It is you who must be clueless. You want to keep DLee for the final weeks of the season, then watch him go FA and sign with another team? Or, are you advocating resigning him for next season? The Cubs can still resign him at the end of the year.
The Cubs are CLUE-LESS!
While I understand the logic and the necessity of such a trade, it pains me deeply when I think of the simultaneously grossly overpaid and grossly under-performing players, contributing absolutely nothing to the team who have long term, no trade contracts which will haunt this team for years to come. Very sorry to see Lee go---he has always been a class act and a good, if inconsistent, player. I wish him the best of success. Perhaps he, like Jim Thome will make his former team regret trading him.
Good now we can go after Dunn.
"Cubs general manager Jim Hendry did not return phone calls, leaving manager Lou Piniella and players to react to the reported deal."
You just can't report that Hendry could not be reached? Are we to understand that, had Hendry talked to you, that you wouldn't continue and ask Pinella and others for their reaction? Seriously? The only reason you asked the manager for his reaction was because Hendry didn't return your phone call in the time in which you demanded?
Why are you so bitter?