Derrek Lee Traded to Atlanta

[Got teeth? Keith doesn't.]

Although word has been out for much of the day that Derrek Lee was on the way to Atlanta in a waiver deal, the deal wasn't made official until 5:25 Eastern Time, according to Fox Sports's Ken Rosenthal. We now know, as well, that the Cubs will be sending cash along with Derrek Lee to the Braves, and the Braves will send back three minor league pitchers. The pitchers are right handers Robinson Lopez and Tyrelle Harris as well as left hander Jeffrey Lorick.

The real get here is Lopez. The 19 year old from the Dominican Republic just missed out on Baseball America's organizational top 10 prospects list for Atlanta and ranked exactly 10th in Baseball Prospectus's pre-season look at the Braves' system. Lopez has a fastball that reaches as high as 96, an extremely projectable frame, and at 19, that's a player with a ton of potential. If his secondary pitches don't develop, he will probably be limited to the bullpen. To date, he has thrown 110 innings as a starter and 33 as a reliever, and, naturally, Lopez has performed much better in the bullpen. However, I would not limit a player with Lopez's potential to the bullpen at such an early stage in his career.

Lorick and Harris are exclusively relievers, which inherently makes their value much lower than that of Lopez, as does the fact that both were, at least at some point this season, teammates with Lopez at low-A Rome despite being 22 and 23 respectively. That doesn't mean that Lorick and Harris don't have some value, though, as both have performed well in the minors in their careers and have shown the potential to make up the back end of a bullpen. Harris has struck out 84 batters in 68 minor league innings, and Lorick has struck out 85 in 86 innings. Both have a tendency toward ground balls, as well - Lorick in particular. Both are far enough away from the majors that they are anything but a sure thing, but it's not like these players are throw-ins. They definitely supplement the value brought in with Lopez.

The Cubs are a team with plenty of money and a large fanbase, so they really shouldn't need to perform salary dump deals with players like Derrek Lee. Lee was making roughly $3.25 million for the rest of the season, a number that likely has little impact on the Cubs finances for this year or in the future. Instead of dumping Lee's salary and getting little in return, the Cubs were aggressive, and threw cash into the deal to help coax some legitimate value out of this deal. Jim Hendry deserves major credit for this trade, as instead of spending his money on an aging first baseman on a fifth place team, he now has three more solid pitching prospects to load into his system. This is just an excellent overall pickup for Chicago.

Cubs Bring Back Pitching For Lee | FanGraphs Baseball

Quite a bit better of a load then I thought they would get. Nice deal for the Cubs.

 

[Wrigley]

It's sad that Lee is no longer a Cub, but it's in the best interest of the Chicago Cubs. Good luck in Atlanta Derrek! And maybe we'll see you back in Chicago next year!

 

[Jntg4]

Ya, I like the last 2 mentioned at MLBTR, not so much the first one.

 

[waldo7239117]

Ya, I like the last 2 mentioned at MLBTR, not so much the first one.

The 1st one is expected to be the best one. He's still yuoung but he has a solid arm and will improve. Scouts are raving over him and he was the best spect in the Braves farm system that the Cubs got. He could be a solid pitcher.

 

[Jntg4]

I only saw the stats, I didn't get a scouting report. I just got home and didn't have a chance to look up reports yet. But if the first mentioned is one of the best, then damn I'm happy!

 

[Got teeth? Keith doesn't.]

I only saw the stats, I didn't get a scouting report. I just got home and didn't have a chance to look up reports yet. But if the first mentioned is one of the best, then damn I'm happy!

Lopez was barely a top 10 prospect for the Braves. Now he's probably off of everyone's top 10 list.

 

[Jntg4]

Great, now I look like a dumbass again.

 

[waldo7239117]

Great, now I look like a dumbass again.

Fixed. Not really, I can care less, lol.

Lopez is only 19 and rated the 16th best spect in the braves farm system with only a half a year in the minors. That's not too bad and I expect that to go up, with age and expierence.

 

[85Bears4life]

D Lee is a class act. Sad to see him go but lets face it this core team had no chance of ever winning...yes we won back to back divisions but we got swept twice. I will miss Lee he played hard every game and yes he was injured often it seemed, but he was a good player for the cubs.

Lilly, Theriot, fontenot, Lee....The rebuilding has truly begun for the cubs...Fukudome is gone after this season jeff baker might be as well as nady too.

Do you think JH is done trading yet as far as in season goes,or will he trade some in offseason?

 

[Jntg4]

D Lee is a class act. Sad to see him go but lets face it this core team had no chance of ever winning...yes we won back to back divisions but we got swept twice. I will miss Lee he played hard every game and yes he was injured often it seemed, but he was a good player for the cubs.

Lilly, Theriot, fontenot, Lee....The rebuilding has truly begun for the cubs...Fukudome is gone after this season jeff baker might be as well as nady too.

Do you think JH is done trading yet as far as in season goes,or will he trade some in offseason?

That's if we can get someone to take him.

 

[waldo7239117]

D Lee is a class act. Sad to see him go but lets face it this core team had no chance of ever winning...yes we won back to back divisions but we got swept twice. I will miss Lee he played hard every game and yes he was injured often it seemed, but he was a good player for the cubs.

Lilly, Theriot, fontenot, Lee....The rebuilding has truly begun for the cubs...Fukudome is gone after this season jeff baker might be as well as nady too.

Do you think JH is done trading yet as far as in season goes,or will he trade some in offseason?[/QUOTE]

I their could be at least one more trade on the way. Nady and/or Baker will be traded before Sep 1st in my opinion.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Nady is a goner..

Hello DH.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Why the hell would D-Lee come back to the Cubs?

Go play for a team that actually has a chance at a title.

 

[DewsSox79]

Nady is a goner..

Hello DH.

nady blows

 

[Chicagoboi8819]

I wish they would have trade Fukodome ( However you spell his last name) I feel like (correct me) if I am wrong he is holding us back in terms of his contract, but I don't think the cubs at this point can find a taker. The best chance is the off-season. I don't know I maybe wrong thou.

 

[Lex L.]

Lee was/is a paper tiger. They should have traded him this past offseason when he was worth more.

 

[waldo7239117]

Why the hell would D-Lee come back to the Cubs?

Go play for a team that actually has a chance at a title.

He likes the town, the team, players, his family loves it here, etc.

 

[waldo7239117]

nady blows

He would be a good DH, backup 1B, a player to come off the bench. He won't cost much in a trade and is cheap. That's why I think he will be dealt.

 

[Jntg4]

He would be a good DH, backup 1B, a player to come off the bench. He won't cost much in a trade and is cheap. That's why I think he will be dealt.

If they deal Nady, who would play 1B? I don't want to see Baker playing there.

 

[waldo7239117]

If they deal Nady, who would play 1B? I don't want to see Baker playing there.

The could try Colvin...they could also call up LaHair and they Hoffpauir now.