The Astros traded Carlos Lee to the Miami Marlins to help their struggling offense. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

The Miami Marlins search for help for their struggling offense might have ended Wednesday with the team trading for Houston Astros first baseman Carlos Lee, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.

The Marlins gave up minor leaguers third baseman Matt Dominguez and pitcher Rob Rasmussen in the deal.

Lee, 36, a three-time All-Star, is batting .286 with five home runs and 29 RBI in 65 games this season.  Lee is in the final year of a six-year, $100 million contract and declined a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

The Marlins are concerned about the status of right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who is battling a knee problem. The Marlins began the day 38-42, good for 4th in the NL East and 9.5 games back of the first-place Washington Nationals. They have scored 314 runs, which is fourth worst in the majors.

Sources: The Marlins are trading Matt Dominguez and P Rob Rasmussen for Carlos Lee.—
Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 04, 2012

Carlos Lee's locker is empty.—
Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) July 04, 2012

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.

Despite losing seven in a row and 10 of their past 11 games, the Dodgers remain only 1.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West race, pending a result against the New York Mets Sunday night. The Dodgers led by 7.5 games as recently as May 27.

UPDATE (8:20 p.m. ET): Carlos Lee said after Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs that he wants to make a decision on a trade to the Dodgers by tomorrow, The Houston Chronicle’s Zachary Levine reports.

Carlos Lee said he’d like to have a decision tomorrow on whether he’ll accept trade to Dodgers.

— Zachary Levine (@zacharylevine) June 30, 2012

ORIGINAL: Houston Astros first baseman Carlos Lee is leaning toward vetoing a potential trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Saturday afternoon.

Source: As of early afternoon today, Carlos Lee continues to tell the Astros he won’t waive his no-trade clause.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 30, 2012

On Friday, reports emerged that the Astros and Dodgers were engaged in trade talks involving Lee. Lee told MLB.com Saturday morning that Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow told him about the talks. Lee has a limited no-trade clause and would have to approve before any deal is finalized.

“L.A. has made an offer,” Lee told MLB.com. “I just told Jeff I want to see my options. I just want to wait and see what my options are.”

The Dodgers are interested in Lee to help jumpstart an offense that has been shut out five times in its past 11 games. Los Angeles is currently playing without Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Mark Ellis.

In 62 games this season, the 36-year-old Lee is batting .289 with five home runs and 29 RBI. He has a .751 OPS. He’s in the final year of a six-year, $100 million contract.

Despite losing six in a row and nine of their past 10 games, the Dodgers remain only one game behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West race. But they led by 7.5 games as recently as May 27.