Alfonso Soriano told Theo Epstein & Co. that he would not accept a trade to the Giants when San Francisco showed interest in him prior to the July 31st deadline. The club may have renewed interest in the veteran after Melky Cabrera was hit with a 50-game suspension, but the Cubs outfielder says that he still doesn't think that the Giants would be a good fit for him, writes Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. "San Francisco is not good weather to play in. It's on the West Coast and I've never played on the West Coast. We'll see what happens if they call. I'll talk to my family then and see. It's not my call. I know it's 50 percent of my call, but it's my family's [call] too. I'd talk to my family and see what happens," Soriano said. More on Cabrera and the Giants..
- The suspension changes the complexion of the National League West race, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Cabrera theoretically could return to action for the sixth game of the postseason, but it's unlikely that the Giants would leave a roster spot open for him without knowing what he'll be able to contribute.
- Cabrera's sudden turnaround in San Francisco seemed too good to be true, and it turns out that it was, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. It's possible that teams will entirely discount his strong play in 2012 when he's on the open market this winter, but others may seize the opportunity to buy low.
- Cabrera's agents didn't pursue an in-season extension once they were notified of his positive test, Heyman tweets.
- There's no doubt that the Giants heard of Cabrera's positive test at the time they acquired Hunter Pence, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. While the official word didn't come out until this afternoon, there were strong whispers of the news in late July.
- Dave Cameron of Fangraphs opines that Cabrera might have cost himself $60-70MM this winter. Cameron also doesn't see the 28-year-old having many suitors in free agency.
- The Giants appear to be in serious trouble without their star slugger, but that doesn't mean that the Dodgers can rest on their laurels and celebrate, writes Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times.
Al thinks the weather in Chicago is better than in San Francisco? If I was a San Franciscan, I’d call that an automatic disqualifier!
Probably just doesn’t want to move to California. Can’t blame him for that.
What you can blame him for is choosing to remain on a losing club that is clearly rebuilding. A club that, if not for his bloated contract, would have happily run him out of town years ago. So much for that ‘just want to win’ arritude.
I’ve lived in both Chicago and S.F. S.F. weather wins HANDS DOWN over Chicago. It’s not even close. And “visiting” Chicago or S.F. doesn’t count. I love Chicago as a city, but weather wise it is MUCH nicer and easier physically on the body than playing in Chicago during the summer months. Plus read above about his stats. They are better playing in S.F. than Chicago.
P.S. I still luvs my Cubs!
What are the state income tax rates in Illinois and California. I suspect that the difference may not be all that much, certainly not as great as between a no state income tax state vs. CA, for example. But it could be something on a player’s mind when considering whether or not to approve of a trade.
“San Francisco is not good weather to play in. It’s on the West Coast and I’ve never played on the West Coast.”
How does that make any sense Alfonso? If you’ve never played on the West Coast, then how do you know that’s it’s not good weather to play in? Plus, he’s playing in freaking CHICAGO! How is their weather?
It’s a lot easy to hit in Chicago than it is SF.
Not even an argument…
It’s a lot easier to lose too, I don’t understand this nimrod’s logic other than that it clearly shows he cares nothing about winning at this point.
No he does but Cubs fans have seen that he’s a pretty big family man and they like Chicago.
IF his family was made up of dead presidents he’s been stealing for the last four seasons then I’d believe you.
Is that your attempt to comment on the fact he’s over paid? Come on junior. I hope you can do better than that. No matter if he goes to San Fran or the American League, Chicago is paying at least $35-$42m on his contract. The guy is getting paid regardless where he’s at.
Not to mention the outfield in Wrigley is a heck of a lot shorter than in San Francisco.
It is a bad statement on his part no doubt. I think the truth here is much more simple though. I play in a band box hitters park and playing in San Fran will make me look bad. I want personal stats and not team glory.
I agree.
so true
You haven’t watched a lot of baseball at wrigley, have you?
more than you have apparently. Wrigley is a hitters park and everyone knows that. Your comment inclines that it is not a hitters park. Soriano and his numbers since his contract he signed in Chicago are bad but it does not change the simple fact of which park hitters usually stroke in.
It is a hitters park when the wind is blowing out. When it is blowing in, nothing will even get to the warning track.
Soriano’s career lines …
@AT&T Park: 288/.345/.635 w/ a homerun every 11 plate appearances
@Wrigley Field:.264/.315/.476 w/ a homerun every 23 plate appearances
to bad Soriano probably has zero clue of that stat line. I can respect
it if it is a family decision but Soriano has always been such a me me
me type player I highly doubt that is the case. That is a great stat
line you found thanks for sharing it.
Agreed. If this is a family thing then you can’t fault him at all.
That being said, his “west coast” weather ploy rings a little hollow considering that it was reported before the deadline that he would waive his no-trade clause for the proposed deal that would have sent him to the Dodgers.
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Could also be a ploy to pick up some more money. He’ll accept more $$ to waive the No-Trade clause. Others have done that in the past, many add contenders to their lists just for that reason.
It is a solid thought and he knows he wont get paid again with another fat contract. But he should look in the mirror at his numbers since signing this last contract and understand teams wont want to pay him even more for an average at best player in terms of all around play. He dropped his stock so bad that even with the Melky suspension I do not think they would pay him more $$$$ through what 2014 when they can probably find another at a cheaper rate this coming offseason. Blanco should be a decent enough 50 game replacement I would think and maybe someone else on the waiver wire who is more cost controlled.
Does he not follow the team for road games?
Cause I’m sure I’ve seen him there.
The Chicago weather is bright and sunny. At least in his mind it is, bright with one hundred dollar bills where he isn’t expected to win. This clown does not care about winning. He is a liar. He said at the deadline no deal was brought to him despite the fact that has been proven untrue from his statement above. Don’t believe him when he says it’s the weather or he wants to play for a contender. He wants to sit in LF in Chi and make his money and never be asked to win….a true CLOWN
Hit the nail on the head.
Soriano has got to be the dullest person in league. How in the WORLD after 15 years in baseball can he say he never played on the West Coast? What? He never traveled with the team on West Coast runs? Geesh.
Soriano has got to be the dullest person in league. How in the WORLD after 15 years in baseball can he say he never played on the West Coast? What? He never traveled with the team on West Coast runs? Geesh.
I think its more about his family, its not easy…
I simply took it as him saying, the cold and rainy weather in San Fran will make his arthritic knees hurt more that they already do.
Dave Cameron: “Melky you might have cost yourself $60-70MM this winter. Now I don’t see you having many suitors in free agency. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Melky Cabrera: “Thank you, the fans.”
wow, this response is soooo overused already!
The original one who overused it was Cabrera during his ASG Postgame press conference. I find it pretty comical and it lightens the mood on what was a pretty serious day in the world of baseball. Never a bad thing to laugh once in a while.
and several others in threads on this site today.
At the very least, it takes the headlines away from Tim Tebow.
Felix Hernandez pitching a perfect game today is the cherry on top.
“A monumental day in sports” – Gary Cohen, SNY
No Steve Dilbeck you are wrong i shall celebrate!!! now let me celebrate dammit!!
Thanks Melky for costing me in Fantasy.
Looks like we can afford to go for Michael Bourn now!
Please no, Dave Roberts 2.0.
Resign Cabrera on the cheap, sign Victorino short-term, or build from within.
Bourn > Roberts.
I don’t want Melky back. We don’t need more cheaters.
Victorino? Are you serious?????
Bourn is 30. Show me a guy his age that keeps his speed. Bourn will get crazy money like Chone Figgins or Carl Crawford who both fell off a cliff after signing.
I hate Victorino but he is a good stopgap if they can get a short deal until Brown or another prospect are ripe.
Agree
Seriously. That guy would be perfect in that outfield and for their style of play.
Soriano is the new Carlos Lee…Obviously doesn’t care about being on a winning team with playoff chances.
Soriano cares a lot about winning….
Please, Cubs, no more 4+ year free agent contracts. Either that or find some way to get the player to waive 10/5 rights. This is ridiculous.
“Cabrera’s sudden turnaround in San Francisco seemed too good to be true, and it turns out that it was, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.”
Huh? What sudden turn around? Sudden turn around in KC, okay. But not in SF.
It’s a shame because yesterday (Tuesday) was the first, and only time this regular season Sandoval, Posey, Pence, and Cabrera would be in the lineup together.
Thankfully Scutaro has been a GREAT pick up so far. He’s a solid, clutch veteran and can get on some hot hitting streaks as we’ve witnessed lately in SF, and in the past on Oakland. While I don’t expect him to keep going at the pace he has, I do expect him to come through in the clutch a lot.
And Pence is waking up at the plate.
I was very happy when the Giants landed Pence. When Pence was available before last seasons trade deadline I was hoping the Giants could get him. Before this seasons deadline, and before we found out about Cabrera’s positive test, I thought to myself that I would like the Giants to get another SP, and bullpen help. Lincecum is declining and how much do you really want to rely on Zito for? Bumgarner, Cain, and Vogelsong are solid for the post season, even though Cain and Vogelsong seem to be wearing down a little lately. But who else do you really want in the post season? Lincecum or Zito? I’ll take Zito. Too bad there was not one more solid option.
Don’t worry San Francisco fans, you dodged a bullet anyway. ;-p
just like when they didn’t pursue Lance Berkman in the offseason
Well we don’t know for certain if Melky was doing this the whole season, but I could see him sign a 1 year deal with incentives to return to the Giants and see if he could at least be a decent contributor.
I think that. Alfonso soriano would be a great addition. For the giants.
Soriano thinks the Cubs are close to winning a World Series in the next fifty years and he wants to be there when it happens.
It sure feels like his contract is that long.
Speaking of Hunter Pence, let’s assume he had 10-5 right, would the Giants be obligated to advise Pence, before he agreed to a trade, that Melky was going to be suspended? Talk about being blindsided. Curious to hear your thoughts.
he’s just following a Giants tradition begun by the main hero, Barry “Big Head” Bonds.
I think that The SF Giants will make a major trade to upgarde their Left-field situation. I look for Them to call The Chicago Cubs for Alfonso Soriano and another name would be
The Angels trading Vernon Wells. Soriano would be great in the short term and I would still add a Lefthanded bat and Lyle Overbay would be a good cady at 1st Base.
A GM willing to give Melky 3 years 30 million…..Really?