Soriano is one home run and one RBI away from his first “30-100” season since 2002
Owed $36 million over the next two seasons, Alfonso Soriano is the most expensive contract that remains for first-year president Theo Epstein, who has shed a myriad of salary from the Chicago Cubs this season. If they are unable to trade him this off-season, the Cubs might have better success moving him at next July’s non-waiver trade deadline, FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal speculates.
Though Soriano will be 37 in January and is below average in the outfield, he is one home run and one RBI away from his first “30-100” season since 2002. Soriano, who is also batting .261 with a .817 OPS, signed an eight-year, $136 million contract with the Cubs before the 2007 season. The deal includes a full no-trade clause.
Epstein is rebuilding the Cubs around young standouts like shortstop Starlin Castro, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Second baseman Darwin Barney and top prospects like infielder Javier Baez and outfielder Jorge Soler are expected to make a significant impact.
The Cubs will be in rebuilding mode again in 2013 and veterans like Soriano, David DeJesus, Bryan LaHair, Carlos Marmol and Matt Garza will likely be shopped this off-season.
