New York Yankees Trade Rumors: The Return of Alfonso Soriano?
July 14, 2011 · Pat Dean · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano could be returning to a familiar pinstriped uniform at the conclusion of the MLB trade deadline as the New York Yankees have a few scouts looking at their former second baseman.
The Bronx Bombers are tied in the loss column with their AL East rival, the Boston Red Sox, and are ready to exercise their quotidian buyer’s habit to replenish their hitting lineup.
The Yankees stratagem would be to place Soriano in the role as a designated hitter and Soriano would have no objections to that. It is said that Soriano would relish at the opportunity to play for a postseason team. Additionally, a move to DH for Soriano would mollify the attrition on his legs making him a more than viable hitter down the stretch leading into the postseason.
The 35-year-old San Pedro de Macoris native has $65 million left on his contract through 2014. However, the Yankees are not the least bit frightful of the contract situation and would demand that the Cubs take on a sizable portion of the contract.
An MLB-ready prospect like Justin Maxwell would be all the appeal that gets a possible deal completed as the Cubs are in an avaricious state of mind to rid themselves of several atrocious contracts on their books.
Soriano is hitting .265 with 14 home runs and 41 RBI. While Soriano isn’t quite the 40/40 threat that he used to be, a return to the Bronx in a DH role with high-powered bats should improve his numbers a bit and would be an upgrade over current Yankees DH Jorge Posada.
Should a trade work out for the Yankees and Cubs, expect Soriano to be revitalized. In this day and age where pitching has returned to supremacy, an extra bat will not hurt.
Should the Red Sox panic about this trade rumor? Soriano’s bat in a Yankees lineup could answer this.
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