Extras bases
HOUSTON — Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee has invoked his 10-and-5 rights and rejected a proposed trade to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Lee did not want to comment prior to Wednesday's game, saying he had talked to Cubs general manager Jim Hendry about his options but was keeping those discussions private. Hendry confirmed Wednesday that Lee was invoking his rights and wanted to finish the season with the Cubs.
The Angels were looking for another bat after Kendry Morales was injured. Lee does have a full no-trade clause and is owed about $4.95 million for the rest of the season. But he also has been in the league for 10 years and five with the same team, which gives him the right to veto any deal.
"There may be a time when I'm ready to talk about it but not now," Lee said Wednesday.
Lee, who will be a free agent after this season, is batting .248 with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs, well off his usual pace. In 17 games since July 6, he is hitting .333 with 17 runs, seven doubles, one homer and eight RBIs.
The Rangers also were looking at adding a right-handed bat who could play first, but Lee, 34, was not a good fit.
Extras bases
Catcher Geovany Soto was given Wednesday off as precaution. He fouled a ball off the instep of his left foot Monday. Soto was expected to play Friday. … Carlos Marmol talked to Andrew Cashner after Tuesday's rough outing in which the rookie gave up six runs in one inning. "I told him it happens to everybody," the Cubs' closer said. "You're not going to be perfect every day." … Tyler Colvin batted third on Wednesday, but that was primarily because manager Lou Piniella decided to give Derrek Lee, Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano a day off. "He's not a third hitter," Piniella said of Colvin, who has been hitting leadoff recently. "The way our club is set up, we don't really have what you would classify as a legitimate first hitter. If we hit him first and let him get at-bats and he can run and he can hit the ball out of the ballpark, he's done a nice job. His on-base percentage needs to be improved, but that will come with time." … Matt Szczur, the Cubs' fifth-round pick, was expected in Chicago on Monday to get a sneak peek at Wrigley Field. He was recently promoted to Class A Peoria. … Josh Vitters, sidelined with a broken finger on his left hand, could play in the Arizona Fall League if he recovers in time. Casey Kopitzke, who is managing in Peoria, will manage the Mesa Solar Sox in the AFL.