Astros Rumors: Houston Could Still Seek Taker for Carlos Lee

Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle reports that just because the Houston Astros failed to complete a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers involving Carlos Lee, it doesn’t mean the club won’t seek a new taker for the 36-year-old.

The Dodgers are among the 14 teams on the list that could come into play. The Astros have 29 days to trade Lee before the non-waiver deadline, and he would likely clear August waivers unless a rival gets desperate.

So there is nothing to prevent this from happening again, though this experience might send the Astros looking for a team absent from the list. According to a person with knowledge of the contract, the no-trade list skews toward higher-payroll teams.

The Dodgers and Astros discussed a Lee trade through the weekend, and it was reported that the sides had reached an agreement on a deal that would send the first baseman/outfielder to LA. However, Lee used his no-trade clause to block the deal and the Dodgers ultimately rescinded their offer.

Lee and the Astros front office haven’t said much regarding the dead deal, though Levine speculates that Houston could continue shopping their veteran slugger as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

While Lee does own the power of blocking trades, he can only say no to 14 clubs. Levine believes the Astros could look to a club not on Lee’s list to avoid another veto.

On the season, Lee has hit at a clip of .284/.335/.404 with 19 extra-base hits and 29 RBIs. He’s owed $18.5 million this year and will become a free agent following the season.

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Do you think Lee will get traded this summer?

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