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In dire need of a bat with thump and an indication the Yankees may believe that Alex Rodriguez isn’t going to play this season, the toothless Bombers are close to acquiring Alfonso Soriano from the Cubs, The Post has learned.

According to a person familiar with the talks, the Cubs will pay the bulk of what is left on Soriano’s contract. He makes $18 million this year and the same for next season.

Like they did in the Vernon Wells deal, whatever the Yankees pay will be laid out for the little more than the $6 million remaining Soriano’s contract this season. That way the Yankees aren’t on the hook for money next year when they want to get the payroll to $189 million. Soriano has a no-trade clause, but he would not block a deal to put him back in Pinstripes.

In return the Cubs will get a mid-level prospect.

hermes wrote:well its been a long time coming for this

only one mid-level prospect and we're paying the majority of his contract? we must really want to be rid of him

The Cubs scouted Chase Whitley over the weekend.

Whitley is a right-hander pitching for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in New York's system.

The Yankees are reportedly close to acquiring Soriano from Chicago.

While the Cubs and Yankees are in talks regarding Alfonso Soriano, the two clubs have only engaged in "preliminary" discussions on a trade.

The New York Post reported Tuesday morning that New York and Chicago were close to a trade.

Jed Hoyer called the report "very premature; we've had conversations with multiple teams about him, but nothing close" on MLB Network Radio.

hermes wrote:although maybe its not as close as we're led to believe
http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... eliminary/

While the Cubs and Yankees are in talks regarding Alfonso Soriano, the two clubs have only engaged in "preliminary" discussions on a trade.

The New York Post reported Tuesday morning that New York and Chicago were close to a trade.

Jed Hoyer called the report "very premature; we've had conversations with multiple teams about him, but nothing close" on MLB Network Radio.

Sources: Alfonso Soriano deal close

Alfonso Soriano is close to returning to the New York Yankees, sources told ESPN.com on Thursday night.

The Chicago Cubs scratched Soriano from the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday and a deal is close, according to Cubs manager Dale Sveum.

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Epstein boarded a plane back to Chicago after talking to Sveum on Thursday night. The Cubs' top executive had a conversation with Soriano on Tuesday night and asked the player whether he would waive his no-trade clause to return to the Yankees. The Cubs are still waiting for the formal waiver from Soriano.

The Cubs would get a little salary relief and a lower-tier pitching prospect in the trade, according to sources.

Dominater wrote:Geez. Paying most of his deal AND getting a lower tier player back? They should make the Yanks pony up more $$$$ if theyre not willing to give up anybody. They got more money than any team in baseball

Alfonso Soriano traded to Yankees

The trade of Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano to the New York Yankees was finalized Friday after he officially waived his no-trade clause, sources told ESPN.

Of the estimated $24.5 million Soriano is owed through the end of next season, the Cubs are going to pick up about $17.7 million and the Yankees will cover the remaining $6.8 million, sources said. Soriano is scheduled to make $18 million next season, $5 million of which will be paid by the Yankees, the sources said.

Major League Baseball had to approve the dollar exchange for the trade to go through. The Cubs will get Class A pitcher Corey Black from the Yankees, sources told ESPN's Jim Bowden.