Detroit Tigers Could Be A Potential Landing Spot For Alfonso Soriano
Fearless prediction: The Cubs will trade Alfonso Soriano at some point in 2012. Alright, so that’s not “fearless” in any way, shape, or form. In fact, it’s pretty much inevitable at this point that the Cubs will be free of Soriano at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Soriano has found himself in the middle of trade rumors for the entire offseason, as the Cubs attempt to unload the veteran outfielder and the three years & $54 million remaining on the eight-year contract he signed.
It’s a move the Cubs are trying to make to rid themselves of one of the worst contracts in the history of Major League Baseball. It has nothing to do with his character in the clubhouse or his personality, as Soriano, by all accounts, has been a model citizen in his time in Chicago (which obviously was not the case with now former Cub Carlos Zambrano).
Nonetheless, Soriano figures to find his way off of the North Side of Chicago soon, provided the Cubs eat $40 million of his remaining salary, at the very least. Which, of course, they are expected to do.
Most Soriano rumors this offseason have revolved heavily around the Baltimore Orioles. If he’s going to go anywhere, it’s going to be to an American League club, with the O’s and Sori’s former manager in Texas, Buck Showalter, looking like a prime location. But Soriano said recently that he’d be willing to be moved, if it meant going to a contender.
Now Soriano might be getting his chance.
Tigers slugger Victor Martinez tore his ACL on Tuesday, meaning that his 2012 season is already over. With him out of the lineup, the Tigers will lose out on a .330 average and over 100 RBIs.
But they might be able to replace some of that power in the lineup with Soriano. He won’t get anywhere near that type of average, but is projected to hit around 25 home runs and drive in around 80, which could improve with a better lineup around him.
The Cubs and Tigers have been linked plenty this offseason, thanks to the Matt Garza trade rumors. While they seem unwilling to part with the type of prospects the Cubs would want in that potential deal, they have an opportunity to grab a power bat from the Cubs, for a relatively low cost.
Even if the Cubs ate all but about $15 million, Soriano could be a better value at $5 million a year for the next three years than a lot of other designated hitters in the American League. I completely expect the Tigers to at least inquire as to a potential deal for the 36-year-old outfielder.
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[...] Detroit Tigers Could Be A Potential Landing Spot For Alfonso Soriano Tigers slugger Victor Martinez tore his ACL on Tuesday, meaning that his 2012 season is already over. With him out of the lineup, the Tigers will lose out on a .330 average and over 100 RBIs. But they might be able to replace some of that power in the … Read more on Rant Sports [...]
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