Carlos Lee trade talks between Dodgers, Astros officially off the table

The Houston Astros' proposed trade of first baseman Carlos Lee to the Los Angeles Dodgers is now off the table, according to multiple reports. Fox Sports' Ken

The Houston Astros' proposed trade of first baseman Carlos Lee to the Los Angeles Dodgers is now off the table, according to multiple reports.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported, via Twitter, that the Dodgers had been the first to flinch and remove themselves from the trade discussions. This stemmed from Lee's initial hesitance to accept the trade, which ended Saturday with Lee telling reporters he would make a decision Sunday.

Source: #Dodgers pulled out of Lee talks earlier today. Deal off.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 2, 2012

Lee's lack of enthusiasm for trade drove #Dodgers' decision. Stay tuned: #Astros still can trade Lee to 15 teams without his permission.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 2, 2012

ESPN.com's Buster Olney confirmed that the talks were dead, adding that Lee later vetoed the proposed deal. As Rosenthal reported, the Astros could still work out a trade with one of the 15 teams to which Lee cannot veto a deal.

The trade talks between the Dodgers and Astros first surfaced on Friday night, and Lee told MLB.com Saturday morning that he wanted to "wait and see what my options are." After the Astros lost to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, he told the Houston Chronicle’s Zachary Levine that he wanted to make a decision by Sunday.

The Dodgers need a bat in their lineup that can help spark an offense that has been shut out six times in its past 13 games. Los Angeles is currently playing without the injured Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Mark Ellis.

In 62 games this season, the 36-year-old Lee is batting .285 with five home runs and 29 RBI. He has a .742 OPS. He’s in the final year of a six-year, $100 million contract.