Derek Lee approves as Cubs trade first baseman to Atlanta for prospects
After denying a trade to the L.A Angels last month, saying he wanted to stay a Cub, Derek Lee decided that he was now ready to leave Chicago and go to a team with a shot at making the playoffs this year. Lee will now get that chance with the Atlanta Braves.
The Cubs traded Lee to the Braves and received three pitching prospects in return. The trade is good for both teams as the Braves now receive a quality first-baseman and a good hitter while the Cubs are able to dump Lee’s big salary and his decreasing numbers.
Lee felt that right now, it made sense to accept the trade. Lee refused a trade last month to the Angels, as the Cubs still had a chance at a playoff spot. Over a month later, the Cubs have continued their slide and it’s a lost season.
"It just felt right," Lee said. "The main thing is we have six weeks left and Atlanta is in first place, and they're playing great baseball. I understand what Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is trying to do over here."
Currently Lee is dealing with a bulging disc in his lower left side. He may be ready to play just in time for this weekend. Ironically the Braves are visiting Wrigley Field this weekend for a three game series.
"I had a great time here," Lee said. "I grew as a player, grew as a person, but I didn't achieve the ultimate goal [of winning the World Series], so that part is disappointing. The rest of my experience was nothing but positive."
Lee may be having a bit of a disappointing season, but that didn’t seem to be the case last weekend. In a series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Lee hit four home runs and the Braves scouts were watching.
In return for Lee, the Cubs receive pitching prospects; right-handers Robinson Lopez, 19, and Tyrelle Harris, 23 and lefty Jeffrey Lorick, 22.
The Braves lost third baseman Chipper Jones for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. With the addition of Lee, the Braves can now place former third-baseman Troy Glaus back in his original position.
Lee’s season has not been one of his better ones. He has a .251 batting average, well under his .282 career average. The Braves acquired Lee reportedly because he finishes his seasons strong and they feel he can help them down the stretch in their effort to hold off the Phillies and win the NL East.
"He's had a tremendous career here, except for the year [2006] with his wrist injury," Cubs general manager Hendry said about Lee. "He's performed like an All-Star player, and an All-Star teammate, and an All-Star to deal with from the front-office side. It's unfortunate we got ourselves in the spot we're in now. The overall situation we're in makes us all somewhere between miserable and sad every day."
Lee had the right to refuse any trade he wanted because he has been in the league for 10 years and has spent five with the same team. Lee rejected the trade to the Angels last month and was approached about the deal to the Braves by Hendry on Sunday. On Monday he approved it.
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