MLB Trade Rumors: Alfonso Soriano doesn’t want to talk about them
By Mike Dyce
According to the New York Post, the Chicago Cubs are close to deal with the New York Yankees that would have Alfonso Soriano back in pinstripes. Soriano has a no trade clause in his contract, but the Post says Soriano wouldn’t block a deal to the Yankees.
But Soriano isn’t paying attention to rumors and he doesn’t want to talk about them either.
“I don’t pay attention,” Soriano said, via the Chicago Tribune. “I don’t even want to think about it. It’s like July 22 …. Trade rumors are passed. So for me, on my mind now, that’s what I have — (like) we’re in August.
“I don’t want to talk (about it) and I don’t want to hear my name in trade deadline (rumors). But it’s part of the game. But I don’t want to pay attention (to it).”
The Yankees though won’t want to take on the nearly $24 million left on Soriano’s deal, including $18 million next year. Soriano is 37 and past his prime but the Yankees desperately need help at the plate.
“It always depends on how a player is producing,” Epstein said about Soriano’s trade value in June. “When players are playing well, it’s always easy to manage that type of situation. And when there is lesser performance, other factors creep in. But he’s somebody who if you looked at the last year and a half as a whole, he’s performed.
“Obviously this year he hasn’t been at the level of last year, but he’s the type of player who can get really hot in a hurry when the light can go on. … He’s a guy that works really hard to keep himself healthy, to keep himself in the lineup. Let’s hope that beautiful swing he took this afternoon gets him really hot and locked in.”
But Soriano is ready for it to be over.
“How many days left?” Soriano said of the deadline. “Eight?”