When Derrek Lee put a Saturday deadline on contract negotiations with the Cubs, he wasn?t trying to be difficult ? or force the issue. ?It is just having to have the conversation,?? Lee said Saturday before the game with the Cardinals. ?It is something you have to think about and put some thought into, and I would rather not. I?d rather just focus on baseball and helping my team win and not having to answer these questions.? Unfortunately for Lee, the questions will continue. Although Lee and Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Saturday that progress had been made, there were still ?loose ends?? to be addressed, according to Lee.