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.The 37-year-old former Yankees is hitting .259/.289/.476 with 17 HR and 51 RBI in 374 at-bats with the Cubs this year.
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.
It's painfully obviously that they need hitting. Soriano won't solve all their hitting woes, but I guess it's a start.