Carlos Lee Rejects Contract Offer...fate sealed

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 28, 2006 9:53 AM CDT in Milwaukee Brewers News

Ken Rosenthal has the story:

All-Star left fielder Carlos Lee rejected a four-year, $48 million contract offer from the Brewers on Thursday, dramatically increasing the chances that he will be traded before Monday's non-waiver deadline, major-league sources tell FOXSports.com.

The Twins, Tigers, Angels, Rangers, Cardinals, Dodgers and Astros are among the clubs expected to show interest in Lee, who could emerge as a more popular option than Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano due to the Nationals' steep demands in trade discussions.

I'm a bit disappointed (though not surprised) that Melvin went this high. $12m per year, especially with Ben Sheets already signed for $11m in '07 and '08, would've been a huge mistake for this team, especially when solid young options are available.

I hadn't heard much about the Rangers being interested, but they're an interesting possibility. Texas has a slew of great pitching prospects (Eric Hurley, Thomas Diamond, John Danks, Edison Volquez), but most tempting, they have a young catcher, Gerald Laird, who they don't seem to want to use. As you all know, that's my #1 criteria for a team trading for Carlos.

Laird might not be as good as, say, Jeff Mathis, as he's already been on the Major League roster for a couple of years, so he'd go to arbitration that much sooner than Mathis. On the other hand, Laird has proven he can hit Major League pitching, while Mathis is spending the year in Triple-A precisely because he couldn't convince Mike Scioscia he could do just that.

It'll be a fun four days, folks!

Update [2006-7-28 8:11:23 by Jeff]: For the last 24 hours worth of Carlos trade rumors, click here.

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Melvin!!!

We would have been pretty screwed if he accepted. Thank goodness greed won out in the end.

That offer on top of the Graffy/JDLR trade makes me think that DM is delusional about our playoff chances. (Either that, or he thinks our OF replacements aren't that good, which could be.)

MLB Trivia: no team that employed guys working sanitation last week --- who later retire to return to sanitation --- has ever won the World Series. When Winky says "umm, no thanks," you're not a team destined to win it all. Get the salty swag and start preparing to rock the house in 2007.

(Early prediction for 2007: 90 wins.) :)

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jul 28, 2006 7:59 AM CDT reply actions

Melvin

I don't know if Melvin was being stupid. He has to know the market better than any of us, and he'd also want to make an offer that looked like more than a token gesture, which could backfire and be seen as an insult. $12M is certainly no insult, but I'm certain that he knew Lee wouldn't accept the offer before tendering it.

by battlekow on Jul 28, 2006 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe not stupid

But that seemed really risky. If El Chorizo approaches El Caballo and says "hey, amigo, one bad fall in the middle of a home trot, and your season could be done," Carlos might think that $48 million isn't so bad. He doesn't get the 5th year, but the money per season is about right.

In re-reading what I wrote, it kind of seems like the Mexican Sausage is issuing a Godfather-type threat. Maybe I'm overtired, but that seems really funny.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jul 28, 2006 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions

funny.

Maybe I'm overtired, but that seems really funny.

No, that was funny, and I am drinking coffee too.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jul 28, 2006 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

more.......

the longer the wait the less will be returned. I can't believe they didn't know he'd turn down this offer.

I don't think this is a bad team with corey hart in left field for the rest of the season. obviously he's not going to have the impact of lee's bat. BBBUUUTTTT remember didn't melvin say this is a five year ramp up. what year is it????

bring back bernie's chalet. give miller park some sort of beer, brewery history look to it. right now it's a yawner!!!!!!!

Tim Indiana brewers fan

by storminTAZZ on Jul 28, 2006 9:42 AM CDT reply actions

Catcher

With the emergence of Salome and the disappointing glove of Braun, I'm a little more interested in getting a third basemen, and the Twins, Sox and Dodgers all have solid and expendable 3B options who seem major league ready or close to it.

by thekranz on Jul 28, 2006 9:45 AM CDT reply actions

FWIW

The resident minor league guru @ BTF, Mike Emeigh, watched Braun play a couple games and came away impressed with all facets of his game, including defense.

by battlekow on Jul 28, 2006 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Smoke Screen

Guys, my take on the 4-year, $48 million offer was a smoke screen. It's a PR move to get the word out that they "did everything to keep him, but he rejected it so we had to trade him."

It stems the negativity.

"I think it's overrated. I think it takes away from the game. A lot of the guys with high on base percentages, they just clog the bases." -- Harold Reynolds

by John on Jul 28, 2006 9:55 AM CDT reply actions

You're probably right

just seems risky to me...I mean, if he's looking for $60m/5, and likes Milwaukee, that's close. Maybe Melvin knew there was no way it was being accepted...I hope that was the case.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 28, 2006 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions

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