Aramis Ramirez has reportedly informed the Cubs that he’d likely use the no-trade clause in his contract to block any deal, but Alfonso Soriano indicated yesterday that he wouldn’t stand in the way of a trade.
Of course, according to Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com Soriano didn’t even realize he had a no-trade clause in his contract when the subject was first broached by reporters, so he probably hasn’t thought about the situation a whole lot.
Soriano is 35 years old and still owed $18 million in 2012, 2013, and 2014 as part of the eight-year, $136 million deal Chicago foolishly gave him in November of 2006, so the odds of the Cubs being able to move that contract are slim unless they’re willing to eat a significant percentage of the remaining money.
For his part Soriano told Mooney that he’d like to remain in Chicago, and with a .294 on-base percentage and .744 OPS contenders presumably won’t be beating down the Cubs’ door to make a play for him. On the other hand, this offseason the Blue Jays were able to convince the Angels to take Vernon Wells’ deal off their hands, so anything is possible.