[hiaspire]

We answer the question from different perspectives. To me (and the Astros if they want to make a move TODAY) how he compares to others ON THE MARKET is far more important than how he compares to other players generally that are no where near your pressing decisions and totally irrelevant to improvement options.

As a team, you focus on your own needs and goals. They don't give a darn how Pujols or any other non-obtainable player compares to Lee because that is entirely outside of their consideration for improvement TODAY. A team can only focus on available options to them, and the best ways for you to improve today. All that other stuff is irrelevant to their situation.

If you want to add a player from the market today, you can only deal with available options on the market and pay the going rate today. If you want a service within a limited market, you have to be willing to pony up the best offer.

I don't have an exact list of players to give you. I don't keep them in order as many do here. I wouldn't put him in the top tier of elite hall-of-famer-to-be performers, but certainly amongst that next grouping of impact bats. And the best long-term addition to a middle of the lineup available this year - which is all that really matters to teams wanting to add a big bat this year.

But I'd take Pujols and Cabrera certainly over him. Ryan Howard too, as I've been a long-time fan calling for us to trade for him years ago, but he's also less proven and needs to establish himself over the years as other top offensive stars have. Same with David Wright who is a great young asset and talented offensive contributor. Jason Bay also. Beltran you'd take over him in terms of talent, and production last year but not the season before where he initially disappointed in his big apple first impression. Berkman is a better bat in his lineup (they'll be great together with Lee driving him home often) but he also has had some issues in recent seasons keeping their offense afloat. Guys like Carlos Delgado and some older veteran proven sluggers might be in a similar category as Lee offensively, but with less faith for longer-term future investment.

I have answered your question in previous discussions about other guys you have mentioned before in comparison to him who may look similiar by some numeric arguements, but have far less consistency and faith within baseball in terms of talent evaluation. He's going to be a huge all-star bat in the middle of their order for many years to come. There aren't many in the league I would take over him, outside of the truly elite performers or rising young stars with bright futures. Most importantly, most of those are not available options to teams looking to make a big bat move like Lee on the current market.