ESPN Insider... O's close to deal for Derek Lee

[Zen-like Todd]

I'm still boycotting due to Angelos being alive, but here you go...


Marlins-Orioles trade could happen any day

WHO INTERESTED

Derrek Lee
Marlins
Orioles
Dodgers
Diamondbacks

Giants

THE SKINNY

Nov. 21 - The Orioles continue to close in on Lee. GM Jim Beattie told ESPN's Jayson Stark of the Marlins, "Let's just say I know what they're looking for. We've got great young pitching. And that's big currency."
The Dodgers and Diamondbacks also have been pursuing Lee, whom the Marlins feel they need to deal to make their budget for next season. Lee is expected to command around $7.5 million in arbitration.


Also... regarding Vlad..



WHO INTERESTED
Orioles
Angels
Anyone?


THE SKINNY
Nov. 21 - Yankees GM Brian Cashman confirmed to the N.Y. Daily News that the team isn't pursuing Guerrero. "He's obviously an incredible player and I have a great deal of respect for him," Cashman told the paper, "but, financially, we've got too many other commitments that would preclude us being a player for him."

The Orioles are thought to be the most serious suitor at this point, with VP Jim Beattie telling the Baltimore Sun, "He's one of the two or three [hitters] we have a lot of interest in. I know his agents pretty well, and obviously I know Vlady very well." Beattie was in Montreal when Guerrero came up through the team's system.

The Angels remain interested, but they reportedly are deciding whether to invest heavily in someone like Guerrero and be forced to add inexpensive pitching or to target a high-priced starting pitcher and fill the outfield and offense on the cheap.

[JetSolo]

Pass. He's a typical dime a dozen 1st baseman with only a .264 lifetime avg that will hopefully continue to hit 30 hr's, which is no biggie nowadays in the steroid abyss that baseball has become. He isn't good enough for that salary, and given how long it has taken for the Orioles to finally build the farm system to respectability, it would be a shame to blow it on another David Segui.

[AJWatson3]

yeah, i don't know what the big deal is with him since he is supposed to command $5-7million in salary (i believe he wanted arbitration with FLA). screw that. lee always seemed like an average player for as long as i can remember. so now he is an average player with a world series ring?...

sign vlad for 2x that per season, get incredible numbers, youth, leadership (etc.) and move gibbons over to 1st.

we don't need another DSegui. good point.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Agreed. I like the move for Vlad. But Lee isn't an upgrade over Gibbons (who would move to first if we get Vlad).

I think we should look for a catcher and a pitcher to add.

[Buford]

I hope they continue to make bone-head type moves........continue to lose games and fans until D.C. gets our own team.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Bufford, do you think that Vlad would be a bone-head move or are you just speaking generally?

[Maxito]

Well guys your wished have been anwered. Marlins traded Lee to the Cubs for a 1st baseman and a player to be named later

[pga]

Spurned again by a valued player. Whether we think the O's needed him or not, this was a guy that the O's had been reported (ESPN, Balt. Sun) to be "very close" to signing. He then signs with the Cubs for "Choi, the first Korean-born position player in the majors, who hit .218 with eight homers and 28 RBIs this season" and a minor leaguer to be named.

"Lee, a Gold Glove winner, hit .271 with 31 homers, 92 RBIs and 21 steals last season and had a slugging average of .508. He has 20 homers in each of his past four seasons and 40 steals over the past two years - the most by any major league first baseman".
We will not get Vlad cuz King Peter won't pay, so Lee at first would have been good. Let Segui rot on the bench cuz as soon as he moves he is injured anyway.

Did anybody hear on Dan Patrick's radio show last week that Randy Johnson said that he wanted to come to Baltimore but the O's said "no thanks". Depends on if he wanted $15 million a year, then you do say no thanks!

[Posse81]

What Bufford said.