Chicago ? The breakup of the Florida Marlins has begun.

The World Series champions traded first baseman Derrek Lee to the Chicago Cubs Tuesday in a cost-cutting measure, getting Hee Seop Choi and a minor leaguer to be named. More deals could follow.

“There were two main reasons for the move. One is, obviously, we need to achieve our goal of operating within our payroll,” Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest said. “Two, we want to make sure we have the appropriate allocations to retain our core pitching.”

The Marlins insist their offseason changes won’t be as drastic as the ones after they won their first World Series title in 1997. That team wasn’t just broken up, it was stripped and sold to the highest bidder. But Florida does have to watch its budget. It won the World Series with a $54 million payroll, and it would cost more than $80 million to keep the squad intact.

Second baseman Luis Castillo, catcher Ivan Rodriguez and closer Ugueth Urbina are free agents. Third baseman Mike Lowell, right fielder Juan Encarnacion and pitchers Brad Penny and Mark Redman are among a long list of players eligible for salary arbitration.

Lee also is eligible for arbitration, and his salary is expected to go from $4.25 million to at least $6 million. By trading him, the Marlins said they were able to offer right-hander A.J. Burnett a contract.

Lee hit .271 with 31 homers, 92 RBIs and 21 steals last season and had a slugging percentage of .508. He’s also a Gold Glove winner.