Sosa Wants to be back next year

[Boston's Future]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7248798

Sammy Sosa expects to play again in 2008. He would like it to be with the Texas Rangers, even though he's been only a part-time player since the start of August.

Manager Ron Washington indicated this week that he'd like to have Sosa back next season, though he didn't say in what role.

Sosa, the 38-year-old slugger who rejoined the Rangers this spring after a year out of the game, said before Texas opened its final homestand Thursday that he looked forward to sitting down with team officials after the season.

"I definitely believe there is going to be some conversations after the year is over. Definitely, I'd love to come back here, no question about it," Sosa said. "I would love to see what they have planned for me."

The Rangers signed Sosa only through this season, initially giving him a minor league deal before he made the roster in spring training for a base salary of $600,000.

After the July 31 trade deadline, the Rangers told Sosa his time would be limited while they played and evaluated younger players.

Sosa had played in only 23 of the last 46 games going into Thursday night's game against Baltimore, when he wasn't in the starting lineup. He hit .315 (23-for-73) with four homers and 20 RBIs in that stretch.

He was tied with Brad Wilkerson for the team high with 20 homers and leading Texas with 90 RBIs heading into the matchup with the Orioles.

"He has certainly showed the class act that he is," Washington said. "He took it like the great professional that he is."

When Sosa was asked if he'd be willing to come back in that kind of role with the Rangers next season, he said he'd have to wait and see. But he wouldn't say no yet.

"The first choice is here. I love this team," Sosa said. "This team is the one that gave me one of the greatest opportunities."

[Jasen777]

He'd be a good platoon DH.