Alfonso Soriano rejects Giants, but there’s still time to trade him
BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com July 31, 2012 11:34PM
Left fielder Alfonso Soriano is expected to clear waivers, so the Cubs have until Aug. 31 to make a deal, which Soriano must OK. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times
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Updated: September 2, 2012 6:22AM
Alfonso Soriano confirmed that he used his ‘‘10 and 5’’ no-trade rights to reject a possible deal that would have sent him to the San Francisco Giants and said he expected to be dealt by Tuesday’s non-waiver deadline. He had consented to be traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
‘‘I’m surprised that me and a couple more players were not moved,’’ he told the Sun-Times on Tuesday. ‘‘But sometimes it’s not easy. Both teams have to be on the same page to get people traded.’’
Soriano’s defensive renaissance and huge offensive production since going to a smaller bat in mid-May has created a market for him, assuming the Cubs pay much of the $52 million remaining on a contract that runs through 2014.
Because of that contract, Soriano is the surest Cub to make it through waivers unclaimed, giving the Cubs’ a new deadline of Aug. 31 to get a deal done, assuming he doesn’t veto it.
Contrary to reports saying Soriano has given the front office a list of teams he’s willing to join, Soriano said he only has told the Cubs ‘‘they can call, they can ask,’’ and he’ll consider the team.
‘‘The only thing I said yes to was the Dodgers,’’ said Soriano, whom the Cubs proposed to the Dodgers in a package with Ryan Dempster.
Said Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer: ‘‘We had talked to him about places he might go. I’m not going to characterize how far it went. But certainly we did have some of those conversations.’’
Soriano doesn’t have a strong sense of whether he’ll be traded.
‘‘If not, I’m still here,’’ he said, ‘‘and I like it here. The only thing I don’t like is that we’re losing. But I like it here; life is good. And we’ll see what happens.’’
New look
The Cubs rotation will include Justin Germano, who went five innings for the victory Monday against Pittsburgh, and Casey Coleman, who replaced Ryan Dempster Tuesday night.
The team also recalled infielder Adrian Cardenas and catcher Welington Castillo.
Matt Garza, who likely would have been traded had he not suffered a triceps injury, is expected to pitch Tuesday against the San Diego Padres. Garza spent deadline day at the hospital awaiting the birth of his fourth child, a girl named Summer.
What’s next
The Cubs likely will continue to change looks in the coming weeks. The team may promote minor leaguers like third baseman Josh Vitters before the Sept. 1 date when rosters can expand.
‘‘On a daily basis, we might do a lot of things from here on out,’’ said manager Dale Sveum, who will meet with Hoyer and president Theo Epstein on Thursday. ‘‘We’ll sit down on the off day in Los Angeles and talk about what we want to do the last 50, 60 games of the year.’’
Contributing: Toni Ginnetti
