According to a report via George A. King III of the New York Post, the New York Yankees are close to reacquiring a former player in outfielder Alfonso Soriano, to help infuse a surge of power in their lineup.
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.
Soriano is hitting .256 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs for the Cubs so far this season, and seeing as the Yankees are in desperation mode at the moment with all the injuries they’ve suffered, this won’t hurt, probably won’t help all that much but it won’t hurt.