ARLINGTON, Texas — Miffed trade talks involving Alfonso Soriano and the Yankees surfaced in Tuesday's Post, the Cubs have turned down the heat and are telling people they have other teams interested.
Citing a person close to the situation, Tuesday's Post had a story saying the Cubs and Yankees were close to a deal to bring the 37-year-old, right-handed hitting Soriano to the Yankees for mid-level prospects.
Apparently, the Cubs wanted the deal cloaked in darkness until it was completed.
Talks continue between the Cubs, who would pay most of the Soriano's $18 million for next year, and Yankees. He has a little more than $12 million left on this year's deal.
Which other teams are interested in Soriano, who is a lot closer to a DH than a full-time outfielder, isn't known. And it's likely the Yankees remain the best fit for Soriano, who has a full no-trade clause in his contract.
The Red Sox, who are also looking for a bat, don't have a spot at DH for Soriano because they have All-Star David Ortiz there full-time. Atlanta could use Soriano, but there are concerns about his defense.
With DH Travis Hafner batting .210 with 12 homers (none in 61 at-bats), 37 RBIs and a .716 OPS going into last night's game against the Rangers, the Yankees could use Soriano's bat, though it isn't as feared as it used to be.
According to a talent evaluator who recently saw Soriano, not much has changed in his latter years.
"He is the same guy he has always been. He will frustrate the [crap] out of you one day and then pop two homers off one of the best pitchers in the game the next day,'' the scout said. "He still has bat speed and strength, he is still Soriano."
Soriano is hitting .254 with 17 homers and 51 RBIs.
"Let's put it this way, he is better than Travis Hafner, that's for sure,'' the scout said of the left-handed Hafner, who didn't start last night against Rangers right-hander Alexi Ogando.
The Yankees, who remain interested in Philadelphia's Michael Young should he become available, sent scout Tim Naehring to watch Soriano recently.
Manager Joe Girardi, who used the right-handed Vernon Wells as the DH in Tuesday night's 5-4 come-from-behind victory, said he isn't about to pull the plug on Hafner. Nevertheless, there is a question of how long Girardi can stick with a hitter who has been ice cold for too long and use him in the middle of a very anemic lineup.
"We will evaluate it day by day and try to get him going,'' Girardi said. "I am not giving up on Haf. He is not playing [Tuesday night] but that doesn't mean I am giving up on him.''
Asked about Soriano, Derek Jeter agreed to talk about his former teammate as a player and person but made it clear he wasn't lobbying the Yankees' front office to acquire him.
"I don't comment on rumors about who we are getting,'' Jeter said before taking batting practice, fielding ground balls and running sprints prior to last night's game. "I don't get into hypotheticals. I am not the GM. That's a better question for [Brian Cashman].''
Jeter has fond memories of Soriano, a Yankee from 1999 to 2003 and a former double-play partner before he became an outfielder.
"He was a good friend of mine and I had fun with Sorie,'' Jeter said. "He has a lot of power and steals a lot of bases, pretty exciting. One year he had a shot at 40-40.''
Jeter admitted he lost touch with Soriano when he left New York in the 2004 deal that brought Alex Rodriguez from Texas to The Bronx.
"To be honest, I didn't watch,'' Jeter said of Soriano playing for the Cubs. "I barely watch our games.''
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