Chisox73
04-07-2006, 08:17 PM
Lee sets Saturday deadline for deal
If agreement isn't reached, talks will be tabled until postseason
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060407&content_id=1388462&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee set a Saturday deadline to reach an agreement on a contract extension, saying if nothing is done he'll wait until after the season is over to resume talks.
The Cubs and Lee were still talking, but Lee's announcement of the deadline after Friday's game came as a surprise to general manager Jim Hendry.
"I didn't know he said that," Hendry said when asked about Lee's announcement. "His negotiations have been fine. We certainly don't want him to go, and I'm sure he doesn't want to go either. I'm sure he wants to get it done now or table it until later so he can stop talking about it or answering questions or thinking about it. He's done a terrific job out of the gate not letting it bother him."
Lee belted his second homer on Friday in the Cubs' 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. This season is the last of a three-year, $22.5 million deal that the first baseman signed in February 2004.
"I think [Friday night] or [Saturday] morning will be it," Lee said after Friday's game. "If it doesn't get done, we'll move on and worry about it later."
Moving on means tabling all talks until after the season is over, Lee said. Is he optimistic or pessimistic it will get done?
"I'm always optimistic," Lee said.
The defending National League batting champion, Lee had hoped the talks would be completed before the season began.
"I don't want to continue to worry about it or have to talk about it," he said. "That's the only reason for the deadline. Either way, I'm fine and I'll continue to play and focus on winning baseball games."
Cubs manager Dusty Baker would like to see Lee, 30, stay. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Lee entered this season with a career .276 average and has hit .306 in two seasons with the Cubs.
"We love Derrek, Derrek loves us," Baker said prior to the Cubs' home opener. "It's a matter of coming together on things. He's talked to me. He wants to stay here very badly, and we want him to stay here very badly."
Lee is very even-keeled.
"He's so constant and steady in his outlook and attitude that you won't tell any difference," Baker said. "You can't tell when Derrek's happy or when he's really sad. He's always the same. He's been the same since I've known him as a little kid.
"He gets called out on a bad third strike, and he walks back to the dugout," Baker said. "He hits a home run, and he walks back to the dugout. That's Derrek Lee."
Hendry planned on contacting Lee's agent late Friday to see if the two sides could wrap up the final details by Saturday.
"If we can't, we'll table it for later on," Hendry said.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
If agreement isn't reached, talks will be tabled until postseason
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060407&content_id=1388462&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee set a Saturday deadline to reach an agreement on a contract extension, saying if nothing is done he'll wait until after the season is over to resume talks.
The Cubs and Lee were still talking, but Lee's announcement of the deadline after Friday's game came as a surprise to general manager Jim Hendry.
"I didn't know he said that," Hendry said when asked about Lee's announcement. "His negotiations have been fine. We certainly don't want him to go, and I'm sure he doesn't want to go either. I'm sure he wants to get it done now or table it until later so he can stop talking about it or answering questions or thinking about it. He's done a terrific job out of the gate not letting it bother him."
Lee belted his second homer on Friday in the Cubs' 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. This season is the last of a three-year, $22.5 million deal that the first baseman signed in February 2004.
"I think [Friday night] or [Saturday] morning will be it," Lee said after Friday's game. "If it doesn't get done, we'll move on and worry about it later."
Moving on means tabling all talks until after the season is over, Lee said. Is he optimistic or pessimistic it will get done?
"I'm always optimistic," Lee said.
The defending National League batting champion, Lee had hoped the talks would be completed before the season began.
"I don't want to continue to worry about it or have to talk about it," he said. "That's the only reason for the deadline. Either way, I'm fine and I'll continue to play and focus on winning baseball games."
Cubs manager Dusty Baker would like to see Lee, 30, stay. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Lee entered this season with a career .276 average and has hit .306 in two seasons with the Cubs.
"We love Derrek, Derrek loves us," Baker said prior to the Cubs' home opener. "It's a matter of coming together on things. He's talked to me. He wants to stay here very badly, and we want him to stay here very badly."
Lee is very even-keeled.
"He's so constant and steady in his outlook and attitude that you won't tell any difference," Baker said. "You can't tell when Derrek's happy or when he's really sad. He's always the same. He's been the same since I've known him as a little kid.
"He gets called out on a bad third strike, and he walks back to the dugout," Baker said. "He hits a home run, and he walks back to the dugout. That's Derrek Lee."
Hendry planned on contacting Lee's agent late Friday to see if the two sides could wrap up the final details by Saturday.
"If we can't, we'll table it for later on," Hendry said.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.