MLB Trade Rumors: Chicago Cubs’ Alfonso Soriano Open to Trade

The struggling Cubs have changes to make.  They must shed payroll in order to pick up players that new head man,

Theo Epstein truly wants on the roster.  To do so, they will surely entertain many trade options this July and in the offseason.  One such option may be a trade involving Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano has long been considered a major albatross contract for the Chicago Cubs.  The club signed him to an eight year, $136 million deal back in November of 2006 after he hit 46 home runs for the Nationals.  Since then, the Cubs have not received the return on their investment they would have liked.

Soriano has been an All-Star in just two of his previous five years with the Cubs.  This after he was an All-Star five straight seasons leading up to him signing with Chicago.  This season, Soriano is hitting .263/.312/.462 with 9 home runs.  He is due $18 million in each of the next three seasons (including this year).

The Cubs and Theo Epstein have indicated they are open to trading anyone and no one is off limits.  However, with Soriano, they will likely have to eat a chunk of his contract for another team to take him on.  Soriano, of course, wants to go to a contender, but he doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.

According to Sports Illustrated, Soriano understands the Cubs needs to rebuild and would welcome a trade to a contending team.  “If they want to trade me, I hope it is to a team that’s a contender because it’s about trying to go for that ring,” Soriano said.

The Cubs have long wanted to part ways with Soriano, but they haven’t found suitors willing to take him on.  Perhaps with Epstein’s knack for negotiating, the team can find the right deal to move him and finally begin their true rebuilding process.