It's no longer a rumor: the Astros have a deal to trade outfielder Carlos Lee to the Dodgers ... but Lee's got one of those pesky no-traded clauses, and so he is ... thinking about it.

Brian McTaggart (via MLB.com):

"L.A. has made an offer," Lee said. "I just told Jeff I want to see my options. I just want to wait and see what my options are."

Lee, who's in the final year of a six-year, $100-million contract that has about $9 million remaining this season, said he wasn't given a deadline from the Astros to make a decision. He has deep business ties in Texas and owns and operates a large ranch not far from Houston.

"We'll see how it plays out," Lee said.

The thing about Lee's ranch is interesting, but doesn't seem all that germane. What, is he scurrying back there after every home game, and participating in moonlit roundups? Is there really any business so pressing that can't be conducted over the phone, or after the baseball season?

Lee's options are

1 - accept the trade and play for a contending team

2 - don't accept the trade and play for a last-place team

3 - hold out for a bit and hope the Dodgers will sweeten the pot a little.

They're desperate, of course, having scored negative-8 runs in their last 11 games. But Carlos Lee is hardly a panacea, and if there's any sweetening it should be minimal. I'll bet we have a resolution by week-end's end.