November 26, 200322 yr The Fish "traded" DLee. That means the Cubs have to go to arbitration with him. Lee has no obligation to sign a long term contract with the Cubs. I believe the whole reason, or at least an important reason he didn't do a deal with the O's was because he wants to be a free agent at the end of the 2004 season. He and his agent believe the soft market this fall will abate and he'll be able to get the big bucks in 2005. DLee may very well turn out to be a one year signee for the Cubs. Choi on the otherhand, if he works out, could be with the Fish for four or five years (putting Jason Stokes aside for a minute) and if he can regain what he had in the beginning of last season, before his collision, he could hit 20-25 home runs in 2004. I'll take this deal anytime. One last thing, DLee's father is the guy who signed Choi for the Cubs. Talk about irony.
November 26, 200322 yr the Cubs will probably try to sign Lee through 2007. if they can't, they'll be going after a stopgap in 2005. either way, i expect the Cubs to try to take one of their minor league hitting prospects and put them at 1B.
November 26, 200322 yr I think D Lee and his agent looked at the FA situation for 2005. I t may not be as flooded as it is now. I'm with Ramp, I think the Cubs will try to lock him up long term.
November 26, 200322 yr I wish they would lose him next season, but i think they will re-sign him for 4-5 years... hopefully not !
November 26, 200322 yr Author Of course they'll "try" but one has to believe after he refused a multi-year deal in Baltimore that he'll refuse one Chicago too.
November 26, 200322 yr Of course they'll "try" but one has to believe after he refused a multi-year deal in Baltimore that he'll refuse one Chicago too. It really depends on how much the O's offered. We will never know. I think Chicago will find a way to lock him up.
November 26, 200322 yr I'm thinking there is a good chance Derek has his mind made up about testing the Free Agent Market next year.
November 26, 200322 yr btw, it's being reported that Lee and Hendry are already talking about a long term deal
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