No Deal Dodgers pull out after Carlos can't agree to trade

The trade deadline is not for another month.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Carlos Lee says he expects to decide by Sunday</p>&mdash; Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/219217788965888003" data-datetime="2012-06-30T23:56:08+00:00">June 30, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The Carlos Lee Decision: I'm taking my talents to Jack in the Box</p>&mdash; Andy Wade (@HouCounterplot) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouCounterplot/status/219221323120001024" data-datetime="2012-07-01T00:10:11+00:00">July 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
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What do you mean? They've been in first place most of the season despite their best player, and arguably one of the top 3 in baseball, missing most of the first half. They currently would be the first wildcard in the playoffs, and are half a game out of the division lead.

They have some of the best pitching in the league, and will add a superstar whenever Kemp comes back. The whole reason to add Lee, in theory, is to improve further.

 

look if the dodgers throw in unlimited cars jr and in and out..I am sure fatty would be on the next plane to LA

 

They got in n out burger, carlos

 

Nah, Carlos literally grows his own burgers.

 

I understand why the Dodgers would want to add Lee. With so many of their big guns out, Lee might help fill in the gap.

But the Dodgers lost their lead, and are currently headed down. It isn't like the Dodgers are guaranteed to go to the post season. They aren't winning their division any more right now.

That's all I'm saying. Do they have a chance to make the post season? Absolutely. But it's not like that by choosing to go there, it means Lee doesn't want to be play for a contender.

With Lee's contract ending, he might want to play somewhere that will ensure he gets to show off what he can do. It's possible that once LA gets all there guys back, Lee doesn't really get steady playing time anymore. And depending on how far they drop, or what happens with Kemp and the others coming back, they may not be able to even reach the post season. Then Lee has lost out not only on a chance to play in the post season, but to even show off his best assets to make what he can next season. He knows he's already going to take a huge pay cut, but it remains to be seen how much of a pay cut.

LA Dodgers basically had the roster last year that they'll have once their big guns are back. Some slight changes, but basically the same, and they weren't contenders.

I just think those that are badmouthing Lee are over hyping the Dodgers chances.

 

No team is guaranteed to make the postseason in June - but the Dodgers chances are as good as anyone. They are in the playoffs now, despite more injuries than most of the other major contenders.

If there was any reason to believe that Lee wants to go to a different contender, that would be differnet. But Lee has a history of this - he's routinely shot down trade possibilities in the past saying that he's happy and comfortable in Houston and has no interest in going anywhere else. He's never shown any interest in being on a contender or actually trying to win. He's just collecting a paycheck at this point. That's certainly his right, but fans generally aren't going to support that at all.

 

I'd say right now the SF Giants, the Reds, and the Nationals all have a better chance in the NL of going to the playoffs because they lead their divisions. The Dodgers are a game out. Yes there is a wild card shot for teams, but who knows? The teams who lead their divisions seem more likely because wild card slots could be from the same division.

I'm not familiar with Lee shooting down other trades to contenders. Maybe he has, but I hadn't heard of that. Anything I've heard about possible trades had more to do with Lee's salary than anything like that.

Maybe he does have a history of it that I wasn't aware of.

 

I can't make myself hate a smiling, fan-friendly ballplayer who wants to stay here and play out his career. Even if he doesn't look like an Adonis (which is soooooooo important in baseball, see Ruth, George Herman "Babe").

I wish he had fire in his belly to want to try to help win a pennant...but if he doesn't I am certainly not going to boo him.

 

When a guy is actively holding back the organization i sure hold it against him. I can tolerate his sucking, but this pisses me off.

You can't play in another city, on a winner, for 3 freaking months to help the team.

The Astros should Keyshawn him if he isn't gonna accept a trade anywhere. I would rather see Brett Wallace at 1st, at least he may be good, i know Lee sucks.

 

1 game back of the division lead with 80+ games to go is statistically irrelevant - and even more so when you look at the relative health of each team thus far in the season.

It has been reported numerous times that he was unwilling to waive his no-trade clause in the past, though not necessarily in conjunction with a specific trade. The only difference now is that he can only block trades to 14 teams as opposed to all of them.

I don't think it's his job to care about the organization's future - especially if doing so means he won't be a part of it anyway. I just think a baseball player should show some interest in trying to compete and trying to win. From all that we see, he appears to simply be interested in playing to collect a paycheck. Perhaps he'll accept a trade elsewhere and I'll be proven wrong. But as of now, I'd bet against that outcome.

 

Exactly, he's gonna get paid regardless. If he doesn't want to accept a trade the Astros need to tell him to go away and play the youngsters. The only reason he is still playing is the outside chance we can turn him into something. Give him what he really wants, to collect millions from his couch.

 

Just because Babe Ruth was fat doesn't mean he wouldn't have been a better baseball player if he wasn't. Back then, you didn't have a team by the balls like you do know if you decide to not care about your body or trade. There are plenty of instances where this costs athletes their jobs time and time again....now....you just have to suck it up.

I understand the idea that the Astros made the deal and if they get saddled with him for the full year, it will be just as much on them. Unfortunately, not one person remains in that front office that made that deal, including the owner. So that makes that whole concept much more difficult to swallow from their and the fans standpoint.

 

Not irrelevant if you look at the current trajectory of all the teams involved. The trajectory of the Dodgers is an incredibly steep decline. I understand that injuries have a lot to do with it, and they are trying to make a move now to halt that decline. But they got off to an incredible start, and have gradually been tapering off since even when guys were healthy. Like I said we also saw what a similar lineup did for the Dodgers last season when the guys were healthy. I'm not saying they can't or definitely won't make the playoffs, but it's not like they're an automatic contender at this juncture.

OK, not with specific trades, but I didn't look at that as a negative that in general a guy wanted to stay with the Astros as long as he was playing well. Carlos Lee has been playing well for the most part.

 

Speaking of 'steep declines', 2010 and 2011 were easily Lee's worst seasons with respect to OPS since 2001 and this season he is worse than last. Lee may have been hitting well with respect to the rest of the Astros', but has steadily fallen off in the past 3 years.

 

Excellent get a few prospects and ensure another top pick. The Astros are rebuilding brilliantly.

 

Lee's in the lineup today and said he has no decision yet.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Carlos Lee has arrived at Wrigley Field</p>&mdash; Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/219448556753391617" data-datetime="2012-07-01T15:13:07+00:00">July 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Carlos Lee says no decision yet but he's in lineup he says</p>&mdash; Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/219449748820721665" data-datetime="2012-07-01T15:17:51+00:00">July 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Altuve and Lee in lineup for Astros</p>&mdash; Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/219451929657479169" data-datetime="2012-07-01T15:26:31+00:00">July 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
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No matter what he decides, Brett Wallace needs more major league at bats.