Soriano a Cub?

[ofhdhdy]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a...2006&fext=.jsp

CHICAGO -- The Cubs appear to have landed one of the biggest free-agent names on the market, reportedly signing outfielder Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $135 million contract.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry would not confirm it, but sources said the Cubs likely will have an announcement Monday regarding Soriano, who is coming off his first 40-40 season. Soriano must pass a physical before the deal can be completed.

If the terms are correct, it would be the richest deal in Cubs history, topping the five-year, $73 million deal third baseman Aramis Ramirez inked earlier this month.

It also would be the fifth-largest package given to a Major League player, behind Alex Rodriguez ($252 million for 10 years), Derek Jeter ($189 million for 10 years), Manny Ramirez ($160 million for eight years) and Todd Helton ($141.5 million for 11 years).

Soriano would be the sixth free agent to sign with the Cubs this month. Hendry began his spending spree with the signing of new manager Lou Piniella to a three-year contract on Oct. 17. At that time, Hendry promised Piniella the team would provide the resources to turn things around after a 66-96 season and last-place finish in the National League. He has kept his promise.

So far, the Cubs have re-signed Ramirez, pitcher Kerry Wood (one year, $1.75 million), catcher Henry Blanco (two years, $5.25 million) and pitcher Wade Miller (one year, $1.5 million). The Cubs also have signed free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa to a three-year, $13 million deal and traded for left-handed reliever Neal Cotts.

That's a total of $94.5 million -- and doesn't include Soriano's deal -- and the Cubs have issues remaining to address such as completing the rotation. The spending is a change for Piniella, whose total payroll in his first season with the Devil Rays in 2003 was $19.6 million, and reached $29.7 million in '05.

Soriano, 30, was one of the top outfielders on the market this offseason. The Phillies, Astros and Angels also had been pursuing him after he hit .277 with 46 homers, 41 doubles and 41 stolen bases for the Nationals in 2006.

This past season, he became the fourth player in Major League history to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same season. Jose Canseco (Oakland, 1988), Barry Bonds (San Francisco, 1996) and Rodriguez (Seattle, 1998) are the others.



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Soriano has a career .280 average, 208 home runs and 560 RBIs. He has 210 stolen bases, and he has played for the Yankees, Rangers and Nationals. Last season was his first in the outfield, and he ranked second among NL left fielders with 11 errors. Soriano also was fourth in the league in strikeouts with 160, but he doubled his walk total from the 2005 season and improved his on-base percentage (.351).

The right-handed hitting outfielder could lead off for the Cubs and set up sluggers Ramirez and Derrek Lee.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Soriano is an excellent player but thats a lot of money to spend on him. One thing is certain though, the Cubs will be better then last year.

[fooknasty]

First off, the Cubs paid $2-$3 million per year more than other clubs were reportedly offering. Also, they game him an 8 year contract. That is crazy for someone who is already 31 years old. No way 5 years from now he is worth $17 million. Secondly, the Cubs have a lot of needs that they need to address. I understand that they were trying to make a big splash and give their fans some hope, but the fact is that they need starting pitching. They could have used that $17 million and signed Zito, a proven lefty, to go along with Zambarno and Hill.

Now, the Cubs offense may be a lot more potent than it was yesterday, but I can't even name another starter on the team. A very questionable move from Hendry.

[MiamiSpartan1]

As a Sox fan, I think it was a decent pickup, but I also agree that they needed to spend more on starting pitching. Re-signing Kerry Wood was stupid. They need to cut ties with him and with Mark Prior and start from scratch.

[johnr42_99]

They signed Wood for a 1.75 million dollar base salary to be in the pen. How is that a terrible move? Gagne is coming off of surgery, and he's supposedly looking at 10 million a year. Wood could put up bullpen numbers that are Gagne'ish if he can stay healthy.

[Yankee Mystique]

I think it was a lot of money also but I do think he will impress the fans when he's smacking home runs in Wrigley Field. He can probably hit 50 playing in that ballpark.

[all4phillysportsfan]

I am glad the Phillies didn't spend the money on him as much as the Cubbies did. Great signing for half the contract, but when he hits 36 or 37, I would worry a little bit. Better watch for them Cubs next year, and I do agree re-signing Kerry Wood wasn't very smart.

[fooknasty]

As a Sox fan, the addition to Soriano is only going to bring more attention to the great city of Chicago.

However, I don't even see the Cubs being anywhere near playoff contention this year. But, they do play in one of the weakest divisions in all of baseball, so there is hope.

This team is turning into a National League Rangers ballclub fast.

[lastexit]

Soriano is an underappreciated player. He is top 5 in all of baseball. Cubs just made a smart, smart move. This is one player who has proven himself over and over again and seems to be actually improving.

[Yankee Mystique]

I don't think that he should bat leadoff for them though. I almost had ulcers when he was our leadoff man. Did he leadoff for The Nationals last year?

[nycmjkfan]

Soriano will hit 60 HR's at Wrigley next year

[Milkman X]

Maybe they overpaid a bit but the Cubs absolutely HAD to sign Soriano after the awful '06 season. Maybe the contract's too long but at least we're not lamenting the fact that another team stole him out from under us.

[mets2k]

The Cubs are again considering Alfonso Soriano as an option in center field.

There was a lot of talk about Soriano in center when he was first signed, but the Cubs had made it pretty clear since that he was being penciled into a corner, probably right field. Apparently, it took Soriano bringing it up to get the idea restated. "Now that [Soriano] has mentioned it, it makes a lot of sense, with his athleticism, a real nice throwing arm, really good speed … it makes perfect sense," manager Lou Piniella said.

Source: Chicago Tribune