The Cubs Still Want To Trade Alfonso Soriano

There are certain rumors and ideas that goes in association with the Cubs’ in the off-season. In prior off-seasons, it was the Cubs renewed interest in Baltimore Orioles’ second baseman Brian Roberts and now Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy. In recent off-seasons, the Cubs have been faced with the same two questions: How many lives does Carlos Zambrano have with the organization; and Is this the off-season that the Cubs finally trade Alfonso Soriano. Unlike the past couple of off-seasons, the answers to those questions this year may be yes. It is no secret that Zambrano may have dug his own grave when he walked out on the team in August, and that has increased the chances that Zambrano has pitched his last games as a member of the Cubs’ organization.

Meanwhile, Soriano is in a much different position than the position that Zambrano is in. While his production may not always support this claim, Soriano is a vocal leader in the Cubs’ clubhouse. Whenever there is something going on within the Cubs’ clubhouse, Soriano is usually one of the first players reporters turn to for a reaction. Unlike Zamnbrano, Soriano is respected by his teammates and many of younger players like Starlin Castro look up to the veteran left-fielder. Having said that, there still is no disguising the fact that Soriano is an under-producing left-fielder who may be inflicting the Cubs’ chances to succeed.

This past year was really the first time that the Cubs’ front office may have made a full-fledged effort to move the expensive left-fielder. At this past season’s trading deadline, the Cubs were looking to save face from the Soriano contract. Soriano is owed $54 million over the course of the next three seasons, and the Cubs were believed to be willing to eat a significant portion of the left fielder’s contract to make him disappear. It also appears that team chairman Tom Ricketts is also ready to put an end to the Soriano era, as reports surface during the latter months of the season that the Cubs owners could be willing to release Soriano if the team can not trade him during the winter. That theory, of course, will only be tested if the Cubs enter Spring Training with Soriano still on their roster.

Ken Rosenthal, who has been all over Cubs rumors lately, is reporting that teams are “kicking the tires” on possibly trading for Soriano. That is progress from the trade deadline when it was believed that there was no interest in Soriano. Like in July, the Cubs are still willing to absorb the majority of the $54 million remaining on Soriano’s contract in order to facilitate a trade.

The biggest reason the Cubs would want to trade Soriano would be to presumably open up a spot in their outfield for either top prospect Brett Jackson or Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Jackson is expected to play center field when he makes his ascension to the major leagues, and that in turn, could force Marlon Byrd to slide over to one of the corner outfield spots. Though, it is not out of the question that the Cubs could trade both Soriano and Byrd. But if the Cubs only trade Soriano, the team would still be in a position to add Jackson and Cespedes to the major league roster. Jackson could serve as the starting center fielder, while Byrd and Cespedes would be the starting corner outfielders. In any estimation, it would appear that Soriano’s days with the Cubs organization are in fact numbered.

Expect Soriano to be a prominent name in discussions when the Cubs take stage at the winter meetings next week.