When the Marlins acquired Carlos Lee on July 4, they got the Astros to pay all of Lee's remaining money owed to him this season except for the prorated Major League minimum at the time. That meant the Marlins would only be paying Lee about $300,000. The Astros would foot what was left of the remaining $18.2 million.
At the trade deadline after the Marlins waved the white flag for the season, they attempted to spin Lee. They had a deal in place hours before the trade deadline with the Yankees that would send Lee to The Bronx in exchange for cash considerations. The Yankees were essentially going to buy Lee's contract for $1 million.
What would have made this deal humorous is that the tightwad Marlins would have actually made a profit on Lee's contract of about $700,000.
Unfortunate for Loria and pals, the deal died when Lee invoked his limited no-trade clause to block the deal; the second time he's done so this season. While still with the Astros, Lee earlier used his powers to kill a trade to the Dodgers in late-June. He was dealt to the Marlins a few days later. Since the Marlins were not on his list, he had no choice but to take his talents to South Beach.
When Lee signed his ill-conceived 6-year, $100 million deal with the Astros on November 27, 2006, he agreed to forefit the 10/5 no-trade rights he would have received this season in exchange for a personalized list of 14 teams he could not be traded to without his permission. Obviously, the Dodgers and Yankees were on this list. The Marlins were not.
After Lee killed the Yankees deal, the Marlins were close with the Orioles on a deal for Lee. Lee would have had no choice but to move again since the Orioles are also not on his list. However, the Orioles would not give the Marlins a deal anywhere near as beneficial as the Yankees were.
The deadline passed with Lee staying put in Miami, but he has almost assuredly been placed on revocable trade waivers, so there's a chance he could still be on the move.
