They just said on ESPN that Lee signed a 6 year deal. They didn't state the money.

I saw six years, 100 million.

Carlos hits the jackpot.

It's appearantly worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $100M over 6 years. So anywhere between $16.5M-$17.5M per or in other words more than Albert Pujols.

And Ryan Howard made only $350,000 this year

Now it's J.D. Drew or the trade market for teams that want a bat.

And Ryan Howard made only $350,000 this year

Yes but that's a second year player, we could go on all day listing the Morneau's, Howard's and Cabrera's of the league but once a guy like Carlos Lee is making more loot than a living legend in Albert Pujols well then there's a problem.

Man, the market is getting so f'd this offseason.

A source told ESPN's Jayson Stark that the Houston Astros were set to announce Friday afternoon that they have signed the free-agent slugger to a six-year, $100 million deal. The only significant non-monetary clause in the contract is that Lee will have a complete no-trade clause for the first four years of the contract and a limited no-trade for the final two years.

 

Wow, a full 4 year no trade clause on top of it.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2674398

Edited November 24, 200619 yr by RME JICO

Is it just me or is everyone signing early this year? We're still in November.

why not sign early with these kind of contracts being thrown around? .

300 pound Caballo will be really fun come 2009

Left Field in Houston will be good to CLee. Not just for padding his HR stats, but a smaller LF may cover up the fact that Lee may be the worst fielding LF in baseball.

He'll like that ballpark. At least hitting there.

 

This move isn't as bad as Soriano, but its not good either.

This offseason hurts my head, I can't count that many 0's...

that's what ESPN is reporting.

 

If he's getting better than $16 million a year, we better keep checking the waiver wire because the prices are outta sight and outta mind.

 

 

Mercy!

he should hit 45 HR's a year there.

 

but $16 is waaaaay high for him.

Konerko > Carlos Lee

 

and now he is a bargain.

I wonder if this will lead to a handful of very good bats signed for a few years already, traded. Guys like Mike Sweeney and probably some guys we thought wouldn't be traded. With the market for hitters being what it is, there is no better time to have "affordable" guys to trade. Some teams are going to cash in...Imagine what we could get for Dye, Thome, and Konerko. The market is insane.

IMO the florida marlins are looking good right now

Salaries are always going up. When 2010 rolls around and Pujols has a new contract he'll be far ahead of C-Lee. And in a couple seasons, someone with less stats than Lee will surpass him. Always happens.

The Cubs can say hello to last place, oh wait.

Lots of hitting in that division, except for Pittsburgh, and zilch pitching

Konerko > Carlos Lee

 

and now he is a bargain.

 

Ture dat.

Lots of hitting in that division, except for Pittsburgh, and zilch pitching

Speaking of which, Houston signed Woody Williams today also. Maybe a little bandaid.

 

The one thing that catches my eye...all of the top 5 teams have a potential ace. Zambrano, Oswalt, Carpenter, Sheets, and Arroyo. Beyond that though, it seems teams are relying on a ton of young pitching. Hill, Prior, Cotts, and maybe Meche in Chicago, Reyes and Wainright along with Weaver in Stl, Backe and God knows what in Houston, a bunch of pieces in Milwaukee, and a bunch of pieces in Cinci.

 

Whoever's young pitching steps up will win that division. All 5 of those teams have a darn good offense, the question is pitching, pitching, pitching.

 

But of course...if any of those teams were really smart, they might realize they all could be 1 veteran pitcher away from running away with that division...and might look to finding a team with a veteran starting pitcher or two to deal. Sort of a shame that teams like the Cubs and the Cardinals have basically a wasteland in their minor leagues.

Im really excited for 2011 when teams are trading the Lee's and Pierre's of the world for garbage, AND having to pay some of the contract....

Or the Gary Matthews Jr cause that contract has the possibility of being the worse of the bunch. I can't see Pierre just turning into an awful player, nor can I see Lee or Soriano. Sure htey won't be quite worth all the money they get but they'll still be solid players if you look past that contract.

 

Matthews Jr. could be a solid player but he's the one of that whole group who could just revert into being a 4th/5th outfielder and if thats the case that is an absolutely god awful signing. I know the Angels had a need and if he plays like he did last year its a pretty good move, but they had all the chips in the world to go out and get someone like Vernon Wells.

 

If you are going to go after someone in this market and overpay, why not overpay for a legitimately good player (ie Soriano or even Caballo) or trade for Vernon Wells and give him a Caballo like deal.