When the Marlins did their first fire sale, Derrek Lee was one of the prizes in return, coming over from the Padres as the centerpiece of the return for ace Kevin Brown. Standing 6-foot-5, he was a physically imposing first baseman who initially struggled to find his rhythm in the big leagues.
The first two seasons in the Marlins organization were a struggle, but by 2000, he had a breakout in 2000, belting 28 home runs and batting .281. Between 2001 and 2002, he continued to produce at a steady rate, averaging over 20 homers a year while showcasing an athletic range at first base that was rare for his size, but it was in 2003 that Lee had his best season in a Marlins uniform.
In that season, he hit 31 home runs and drove in 92 runs, while his glove work earned him his first Gold Glove Award. He was a force during the postseason, notably making a spectacular grab in Game 5 of the World Series to help preserve a crucial win. During this stretch, he was a tactical giant who provided the defense and power necessary to stun the Yankees and secure the title.
The end of his run as a Marlin was easy to predict. Much as he arrived in “Fire Sale 1.0”, he departed in “Fire Sale 2.0”. Lee was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he had his best run in baseball. With the Marlins, he had 734 hits, 129 home runs, and a .264 batting average.
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