Soriano's trade to Yankees nearly complete

PHOENIX -- Alfonso Soriano is apparently headed back to the Yankees, where he began his Major League career.

Soriano was in the Cubs' starting lineup on Thursday for the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but president of baseball operations Theo Epstein called manager Dale Sveum and asked him to pull the 37-year-old outfielder, saying a deal was "99 percent" completed.

Major League Baseball has to review the financial terms of the deal, and an official announcement may not come until Friday.

Players were visibly upset at the news that Soriano was leaving. The seven-time All-Star was a mentor to some of the young players, such as Starlin Castro, Junior Lake and Luis Valbuena.

The Yankees are 6 1/2 games back in the American League East entering Friday's action. Can Soriano help the Yankees?

"He's going to a place that is obviously one of the better stadiums, and he's been there before and has performed in that atmosphere before," Sveum said. "Obviously, they've had a lot of injuries, and he's the guy who can fill that void as [designated hitter] and in left field."

Soriano has hit 10 home runs in his last 21 games and was batting .286 in that stretch with six doubles, 21 RBIs and a 1.044 OPS, dating to June 28. He has homered in five of his last 14 games and ranks seventh among active players in career home runs with 389.

"He's put together a pretty good run," Sveum said. "Last year at 36 years old, he hit 32 [home runs] and drove in 108 [runs]. That's a legacy in itself. He's a guy who when he's on the field, he's lived up to his media guide, so to speak, besides the stolen bases he's had in his career early."

This was Sveum's second season with Soriano, and he was impressed with his professionalism.

"He's 100 percent completely different than I thought," Sveum said. "There hasn't been a day of disappointment in his attitude, his work ethic, what he brings to younger players and his professionalism has been off the charts."

Soriano signed the most lucrative deal ever given in Cubs' franchise history, eight years, $136 million, in November 2006.

"It's a big contract, but that's not my goal," Soriano said when he inked the deal. "My goal is to play hard and give you a championship. It's not about the contract, it's about the city and the fans here."

The Cubs won the Central Division that season but not a championship. And they repeated as Central champs in '08. Chicago failed to make the playoffs after that, and lost 101 games last season for the first time since 1966. If the team had won, Soriano's contract most likely wouldn't have been criticized by fans as much as it has.

"There's no doubt, he's one of the top five ultimate professionals I've been around in this game," Sveum said.

On Tuesday night, Epstein and Sveum met with Soriano to go over his options. Soriano has a no-trade clause and said he gave Epstein a list of teams he would consider.

"The Yankees are on the list," Soriano said.

Soriano's deal runs through the end of next year, when he is scheduled to earn $18 million. The Cubs likely will have to cover part of Soriano's remaining salary in any trade.

Soriano did not play Wednesday to give him time to think about his options.

"You sit back, and you're like, 'Well, he's going to a place he's been and is comfortable,'" Sveum said. "Obviously, he accepted [the trade]. It's something he felt is right at this time for his family and in his career, and being part of a pennant race."

Soriano broke into the Major Leagues with the Yankees in 1999 after they purchased his contract from a Japanese team. He stayed there until 2003 when he was dealt to the Rangers for Alex Rodriguez. Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera were his teammates then, and Robinson Cano lives in the same town as Soriano in the Dominican Republic. Soriano could end his career back where he started.

The Cubs have already made five trades in July, including Monday's deal that sent Matt Garza to the Rangers for five prospects.

Epstein used the meeting to thank Soriano for how he's mentored some of the younger players.

"Sometimes there's a natural time to move on, to clear opportunities for younger players, to get 'Sori' into a pennant race and play every day," Epstein said Wednesday. "We just wanted to outline it [in the meeting]. It seems like it might be an appropriate time if he is going to move on to do it now. We can keep Lake in the lineup a little bit while he's hot. We've got [David] DeJesus coming back from the DL, we've got [Brian] Bogusevic and [Ryan] Sweeney coming back. We're looking to give opportunities for young players."

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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