Report: Cubs, Soriano Agree To 8-Year, $136 Million Deal
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CHICAGO — Free agent Alfonso Soriano and the Chicago Cubs have reached a preliminary agreement on an eight-year contract worth about $136 million, a major league official told the Associated Press yesterday.
The deal is contingent on Soriano passing a physical, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.
If completed, it would be the fifthlargest total 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).
The deal was first announced by WGN radio, the Cubs’ flagship station.
Soriano, who could play center field and give the Cubs a leadoff hitter with a combination of speed and power, had 46 homers and 41 stolen bases last season with the Washington Nationals. He batted .277,had 95 RBIs, and had 41 doubles.
Primarily a second baseman during a career that began with the Yankees in 1999, the 30-year-old Soriano made the switch to left field last season, his first and only one in Washington.
His signing would be the highlight of a busy early off-season for the Cubs, who are rebuilding under a new manager, Lou Piniella, following a 66–96 finish, the worst in the NL.
Chicago already has re-signed a third baseman, Aramis Ramirez, to a fiveyear, $73 million deal. They added second baseman Mark DeRosa ($13 million over three years) and re-signed pitcher Kerry Wood ($1.75 million), pitcher Wade Miller (1.5 million) and backup catcher Henry Blanco ($5.25 million over two years)
The Cubs also acquired a lefty reliever, Neal Cotts, in a trade with the White Sox. Chicago has been looking for a center fielder after Juan Pierre filed for free agency.
The Cubs’ general manager, Jim Hendry, declined comment yesterday on Soriano. But earlier, he said the Cubs had no choice but to have a strong off-season.
“We won 66 ballgames. We darn sure better be aggressive,” Hendry said.
The addition of Soriano would give Chicago the punch that could make the Cubs contenders in the NL Central. He will join a lineup that includes Ramirez and Derrek Lee in homer-friendly Wrigley Field.
