Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports that Derrek Lee has turned down an offer from the Yankees and will remain retired. It's not a surprise after Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said earlier this week that he was "not optimistic" about the club signing the 37-year-old first baseman. If Lee's playing days are indeed over, he'll finish with a .281/.365/.495 career batting line, 331 homers and 1,078 RBI over 15 seasons.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he's "not optimistic" the club will sign Derrek Lee. Cashman confirmed a report that he has reached out to the pseudo-retired first baseman, and on Monday he didn't rule out the possibility of signing him. It doesn't sound likely to happen, though. Lee batted .267 with 19 home runs over 113 games in 2011 for the Orioles and Pirates before taking 2012 off.

David Waldstein of the New York Times reports that the Yankees have tried to lure Derrek Lee out of retirement to play first base while Mark Teixeira (wrist) is out. Waldstein says there is "no deal pending," but Lee "was interested and the situation could always be revisited." Lee, 37, has never officially retired, but he chose not to play in 2012 after he was unable to find an opportunity that suited him. He batted .267 with 19 home runs over 113 games in 2011 for the Orioles and Pirates. It's an interesting thought, but it seems unlikely that Lee would be ready for the start of the season even if he signed soon, so by the time he's ready to play he might only be needed for a few weeks. It could be the Yanks preparing for the fact that Teixeira might eventually need surgery.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Dodgers are "lukewarm" to the idea of signing free agent first baseman Derrek Lee and want to explore other options first. Lee lives in Los Angeles and while the 36-year-old didn't sign with a team over the winter, he is said to be open to resuming his career. The Dodgers enter play Friday with a lousy .243/.302/.339 batting line and a .641 OPS out of the first base position this season, so it sounds like an obvious fit, but they are apparently considering options on the trade front first.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that Derrek Lee is still open to playing this season in the "right opportunity." Rosenthal reported the same thing during spring training, and evidently it still holds true. Lee, 36, batted .267/.325/.446 with 19 home runs and 59 RBI last season for the Orioles and Pirates and will probably field some calls from interested parties, but it remains to be seen if it will be enough to lure him away from home.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that Derrek Lee is open to continuing his career if the "right opportunity" arises. In other words, his status hasn't changed much from a couple of months ago. Lee, 36, batted just .267 with a .771 OPS overall last season, but he hit .337/.398/.584 with seven home runs, 18 RBI and a .982 OPS over 113 plate appearances following a mid-season trade to the Pirates. Still, it's hard to imagine he'll get much of a guarantee at this point. If he can't return on his own terms, retirement appears to be a realistic possibility.

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, two GMs think retirement is a "viable option" for Derrek Lee if he doesn't find the right deal before spring training. "It has to be the perfect situation and the perfect fit at the right dollars,'' said one GM, when asked what Lee is looking for. The 36-year-old first baseman batted just .267 with a .771 OPS last season, but showed some signs of life by hitting .337/.398/.584 with seven home runs, 18 RBI and a .982 OPS over 113 plate appearances following a mid-season trade to the Pirates. He could still produce for a number of teams, but given the multitude of aging sluggers available in free agency, it's unlikely he would get much of guarantee. Lee hinted at retirement last year, so he may ultimately decide that this is the appropriate time to walk away.

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that teams considering upgrades at first base include the Brewers, Cubs, Nationals, Indians, Mariners, Orioles, Rangers, Rays and Pirates. Prince Fielder is obviously the big fish left, but his situation remains muddled and a frontrunner has yet to emerge for his services. While the Fielder saga drags on, quality free agent first baseman Derrek Lee, Carlos Pena and Casey Kotchman wait their turn. Of the three, Morosi writes, "If anything, their continued availability is confirmation that teams are holding out hope that Fielder will fall into their price range." Morosi thinks first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Carlos Lee, Mark Trumbo and Billy Butler could also be available via trade. "Because it's so late, not all of those teams will find their long-term first basemen this offseason," a National League executive said. "There's going to be a need a year from now, too."

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that the Pirates still have interest in free agent Derrek Lee. Some assumed that the Pirates were ready to move on after acquiring Casey McGehee from the Brewers and tendering a contract to Garrett Jones, but it turns out they may still have room for Lee in their lineup. And why not? The 36-year-old first baseman batted .337/.398/.584 with seven home runs, 18 RBI and a .982 OPS over 113 plate appearances after joining Pittsburgh at the trade deadline this July.

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Derrek Lee is not interested in signing with the Indians. Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reported Tuesday that Lee was on the Indians' radar, but evidently the interest isn't mutual. Lee is expected to decline the Pirates' arbitration offer but is reportedly going to continue his career after mulling retirement. The Indians could look to Andruw Jones, Ryan Ludwick or Mike Cameron in their pursuit of a right-handed bat.