A confusing post.
Basically you are saying that exclusive negotiating rights with pending free agents has value? The value depends on things we do not entirely know (1) the player's willingness to forgo free agency, and (2) the team's player salary budget, as dictated by the team owner. In many cases, the two factors do not mesh and the team has to explore trade options to avoid the risk of losing the player for nothing (or maybe a pick).
In the case of Cleveland and Lee, the decision was made that Lee could not be signed or was not in the team's interest, and he was traded for what turned out to be a good return.