With potentially chronic quad and hamstring difficulties, Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano must face the reality that at 32 his days as a leadoff hitter are over. All that remains now is for the Cubs to find Soriano's replacement, and for GM Jim Hendry and manager Lou Piniella to flip a coin to see who breaks the news to him.
An ideal replacement -- allowing Soriano to move to the No. 5 spot in the batting order -- would be Orioles second base standout Brian Roberts, 30, a baserunning whiz who parlayed his .377 OBP into 50 stolen bases last year, as compared to Soriano's .337 OBP and 19 bags, most of which were stolen in the earlier part of the season before leg injuries slowed him down.
The problem seems to be that the Orioles have asked for outfielder Felix Pie in return, and Piniella is widely believed to have refused to give up Pie. Starting pitcher Rich Hill has been mentioned as an alternative, and the Orioles certainly ought to go for that. But would the Cubs really be that stupid?
Subscribe To MLB Rumors
Posts
Comments
Baseball Medic
Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors Editor
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.MLB Rumors staff writers
MLB Rumors is published at MLBNewsOnline.com. Thanks for visiting.
