When Alfonso Soriano signed his 8 year, $136 million deal with the Cubs, even the Cubs expected Soriano not to be at his best in the last couple seasons of the contract. Maybe the Cubs expected to be a little more competitive in the first couple years of the deal. Soriano still has another season at $18 million in his deal with the Cubs. With the Cubs not going anywhere, shouldn't it make sense for the Cubs to move Soriano and get "something" back in return? Soriano has stated his desire to play for a winner in addition to waiving his no trade clause for the right deal.
Here are some negatives. Soriano's salary will be a sticking point as this will be a test to how much of the money the Cubs will be willing to eat. And if the Cubs are willing to pay a good portion of his salary, how does that aid in the Cubs receiving better players back in return? Then there is Soriano's numbers, which have not been great this season. In fact, while playing in 45 of the team's 48 games, he has hit .262, 4, 16. While his average is right on point where it was last season, Soriano's power numbers are not on pace to match his 32 HR and 108 RBI from last season. A team could have interest, but it has to be a fair balance between the Cubs eating a significant portion of the salary and the acquiring team giving less in terms of prospects. This is what bothers the Cubs now, and I am sure is why a deal has not been made.
Further complicating things is the fact that many teams can use a power hitting OF that has hit 30+ HR five times in his career and hit 46 in 2006 with Washington. Among contenders, Pittsburgh, Texas, Baltimore, Tampa Bay and even Boston could benefit for having Soriano in their lineup. Though the season is early, I player in Soriano who has a career OPS of .825 is at just .686 this season. That will keep the asking price down as far as what the Cubs command in a trade. Struggling teams such as the Angels, Blue Jays and Phillies would have interest if the price dropped and the Cubs were taking less in return. At that point, even the Mariners, Brewers and Mets could jump in. If I had a guess, I'd assume Soriano gets traded but not until around the July 31st deadline. There is an responsibility for Soriano to start to produce like he did last season, where he hit 33 2Bs and finished the season with a OPS of .821. If not, Cubs President Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer will have the choice to either keep him through next season and get a compensation draft pick for not re-signing him or trade him to a team that offers them the most in return understanding the Cubs are probably getting 50 cents on the dollar.
Here are some negatives. Soriano's salary will be a sticking point as this will be a test to how much of the money the Cubs will be willing to eat. And if the Cubs are willing to pay a good portion of his salary, how does that aid in the Cubs receiving better players back in return? Then there is Soriano's numbers, which have not been great this season. In fact, while playing in 45 of the team's 48 games, he has hit .262, 4, 16. While his average is right on point where it was last season, Soriano's power numbers are not on pace to match his 32 HR and 108 RBI from last season. A team could have interest, but it has to be a fair balance between the Cubs eating a significant portion of the salary and the acquiring team giving less in terms of prospects. This is what bothers the Cubs now, and I am sure is why a deal has not been made.
Further complicating things is the fact that many teams can use a power hitting OF that has hit 30+ HR five times in his career and hit 46 in 2006 with Washington. Among contenders, Pittsburgh, Texas, Baltimore, Tampa Bay and even Boston could benefit for having Soriano in their lineup. Though the season is early, I player in Soriano who has a career OPS of .825 is at just .686 this season. That will keep the asking price down as far as what the Cubs command in a trade. Struggling teams such as the Angels, Blue Jays and Phillies would have interest if the price dropped and the Cubs were taking less in return. At that point, even the Mariners, Brewers and Mets could jump in. If I had a guess, I'd assume Soriano gets traded but not until around the July 31st deadline. There is an responsibility for Soriano to start to produce like he did last season, where he hit 33 2Bs and finished the season with a OPS of .821. If not, Cubs President Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer will have the choice to either keep him through next season and get a compensation draft pick for not re-signing him or trade him to a team that offers them the most in return understanding the Cubs are probably getting 50 cents on the dollar.
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