Angels’ deal to land Cubs’ slugger rejected

By Bud L. Ellis

Since Kendry Morales broke his leg in the infamous celebration following a walkoff grand slam in May, the Los Angeles Angels have been looking for power at first base.

They thought they had found it in Derrek Lee, until the veteran Chicago Cubs’ slugger invoked his 10-and-5 rights.

Lee, a veteran with at least 10 years of major-league service and five with the same team, used his right of refusal and shot down a deal that would’ve given the Angels a big bat at first base for the stretch run.

Los Angeles, sitting in third place in the AL West, 8 ½ games in arrears of Texas and a game behind second-place Oakland, desperately is trying to find a power bat in advance of Saturday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline.

Lee is hitting .248 with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs this year for the Cubs, who are mired in the middle of the pack in the NL Central Division.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 4:18 am by bud

Tags: Chicago Cubs, Derrek Lee, Kendry Morales, Los Angeles Angels news, Los Angeles Angels schedule, Los Angeles Angels tickets, Oakland A’s, Texas Rangers