Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano

Wouldn't be a prospect of note since deal is mainly about cash. Not sure why they would do this since he isn't play 1B/3B

Will play LF (Wells to spot duty) and the DH once Granderson returns. I just read mid level prospect for Cubs picking up majority of contract. This along with Weols decision goes against what Cashman preached all winter about avoiding luxury tax in foreseeable future.

Yes and no....
The Yankees are an old team without a lot of viable replacements. The top of the rotation has two 40 year olds and CC who is on the wrong side of 30. The line up just isn't good and even the best player (Cano) is over 30.

The farm system a year ago was Top 5 but then some players didn't perform, others got injured, and now that farm system is in low teens/twenties. If some of those former highly ranked prospects bounce back it could bridge the gap. I doubt Yankees collapse like the Mets but I could see them missing playoffs more often over next 5 years till they get younger.

Strength of Yankees over past 15-18 years is they brought up Jeter, Posada, Mo. And Pettite to a team that already had some talent and then signed some veterans (Brosius, Tino, etc) for the positions they didn't have someone in minors for. They also locked up their young stars to expensive contracts.

The Yankees current line up isn't talented enough for a serious WS run and is just treading water hoping the stars return to lift them again.

Designating Hafner for assignment isn't a big deal (truth is he hasn't hit since the opening month) I would prefer Yankees keep Hafner rather than pay any portion of Soriano's contract since he is owed 18 million next year and 7 remaining this year (although Yankees may only pay 25% of those two numbers)

3 for jeauxblow

They will cut Hafner

Sorry was on train and who knows what happened.

They could be doing it for Soriano more than anything, honestly. NY needs help and Soriano wants to win before he retires, so that could be the Cubs motivation. It's not like they'll save money or anything or have a prospect take over LF.

He has a no trade to waive and he wants to play on the east coast, I believe. It comes down to who actually wants him (very, very few) and who he will play for (very, very few).

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It's not like they'll save money or anything or have a prospect take over LF.

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The way that Junior Lake has been playing the last few nights, they might be planning on keeping him up for the rest of the season. Went 4-5 last night with an absolute mammoth homerun to dead center, 2 bunt singles and an RBI single late in the game that gave the Cubs a key insurance run. He is in an incredible athlete and looks very comfortable playing in the big leagues. IF Soriano get traded I could see Junior Lake starting the rest of the season. Hell, I could see it even if Sori doesn't get traded.