Ultimately, isn't everything about the Cubs...?

--- In cubscoven@yahoogroups.com, jessemerz@... wrote:
>
>
> /sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060208cubssosa,1,410762.story?coll=cs-cubs-
headlines
> Sosa deal may benefit Cubs
> By Dave Van Dyck
> Tribune staff reporter
>
> February 8, 2006, 8:39 PM CST
>
> Sometime in the next two weeks, Sammy Sosa has to decide whether to
accept
> the Washington Nationals' offer of a non-guaranteed, non-roster
invitation to
> spring training or, perhaps, retire.
>
> And waiting with great interest for his final decision could be
none other
> than … the Cubs.
>
> Strange as it may sound, the Cubs could benefit from Sosa accepting
the
> tryout and then playing well enough to make the team.
>
> Here's the shortened scenario that would involve the Cubs:
>
> Sosa proves in the spring he still has something left in his 37-
year-old
> body, making the Nationals' Opening Day roster for about $1 million
guaranteed.
> That would fill the outfield spot presumably taken already by
Alfonso Soriano,
> who then might be expendable.
>
> The Cubs long have had an interest in Soriano, but Washington came
up with a
> better trade offer from the Rangers over the winter. So Soriano, a
career
> second baseman, was dealt to the Nationals and promptly installed
as the probable
> left fielder. He continues to insist he will not play the outfield,
creating a
> National problem because Jose Vidro is their second baseman.
>
> Either Soriano or Vidro might have to go if Sosa makes the team and
it
> probably would be Soriano, who will make either $10 million or $12
million next
> season, depending on the outcome of Thursday's arbitration hearing.
The Nationals
> most likely would like a front-line pitcher in return, although
they may have
> to settle for less.
>
> The Cubs remain interested in a second baseman, even though they
have three:
> Todd Walker, Neifi Perez and Jerry Hairston Jr.
>
> As for Sosa, no one seems sure of his future. Agent Adam Katz, who
negotiated
> a long-term deal with the Cubs and then brokered the trade that
sent Sosa to
> Baltimore for one season, declined to answer questions about Sosa
when
> contacted Wednesday.
>
> The only public offer Sosa has received is from Washington,
although one or
> two other teams may have made similar make-good type offers without
as much
> money in possible incentives. General manager Jim Bowden denied a
report that
> Washington had guaranteed Sosa a contract for this season.
>
> The truth is Bowden has offered a take-it-or-leave-it deal and now
it is up
> to Sosa to decide whether he believes he still can play well enough
to make
> millions in incentives. Camps open in about two weeks and Sosa
presumably will
> have to make up his mind before then.
>
> Last season, when he made $17 million combined from the Orioles and
Cubs,
> Sosa hit only .221 with 14 homers and 45 RBI and spent two stints
on the disabled
> list. The Orioles declined to pick up his option and the Cubs have
finished
> their financial commitment, giving them enough money to pay someone
in
> Soriano's salary range.
>
> Copyright © 2006, The Chicago Tribune
>