http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1978241

Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa will be traded to the Baltimore Orioles for infielder Jerry Hairston and at least two minor-leaguers, pending physicals and approval from commissioner Bud Selig and the players' association. An Orioles source told ESPN's Tim Kurkjian that the only way the trade will not happen is if someone fails a physical.


Sammy Sosa
Right Field
Chicago Cubs
Profile


2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM HR RBI R SB AVG
126 35 80 69 0 .253

The Cubs would pay a substantial part of Sosa's $17 million salary this season, major-league executives told the AP. Sosa would agree to void his salary in 2006, they also said.

Sosa's contract gives the Cubs an $18 million option in 2006 with a $4.5 million buyout. But the contract says that if he is traded, his 2006 salary would become guaranteed and a 2007 club option would be added at $19 million with a $4.5 million buyout.

The players' association had told Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, several weeks ago that voiding the option would not be a problem.

"I haven't spoken with anybody about the particulars, but from what I understand in all conversations that what was being discussed was cleared a while back," said Gene Orza, the union's chief operating officer.

The teams had not finalized a deal, all the executives said. Selig's approval is necessary because the trade would involve the transfer of $1 million or more.

Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie and vice president Mike Flanagan could not be reached for comment. Cubs spokesman Sharon Panazzo also could not be reached for comment and Katz declined to comment.

The Cubs have been looking for a taker for Sosa since the end of the season, when he skipped out on the finale at Wrigley Field. Sosa initially claimed he didn't leave until the seventh inning, but the Cubs produced videotapes showing him leaving shortly after the game began and fined him $87,500 -- one day's salary.

The New York Mets were initially thought to be the best bet because general manager Omar Minaya signed Sosa when he was a teen in the Dominican Republic. But the Mets won the bidding for Carlos Beltran two weeks ago, and two Mets officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were not involved with Sosa trade talks this week.

The Orioles' interest apparently heated up after they lost out on Carlos Delgado earlier this week. Baltimore offered Delgado $48 million over four years, but the slugger took a $52 million, four-year deal from the Florida Marlins instead.

Sosa has 574 home runs, seventh on the career list, and his home run race with Mark McGwire in 1998 made him one of the game's most popular players. With an infectious smile, home run hops and heart taps, he became Chicago's favorite athlete after Michael Jordan retired. In all those dark years when the Cubs struggled, Sosa and his jaw-dropping homers were the lone bright spots.

But Sosa's relations with the Cubs -- and the fans -- soured in recent years. Hampered by injuries, he's batted just .266 the last two seasons and his homer totals have dropped. Last season, Sosa batted only .253 -- his lowest average since 1997 -- and hit 35 homers and 80 RBI in 126 games, ending his run of 100-RBI seasons at nine.

The breaking point came when he skipped out on the final game of last season. He criticized manager Dusty Baker the next day, with Sosa saying all the blame was put on him for the Cubs' failures. In a later interview, Sosa said he was humiliated by being dropped to sixth in the batting order.

While Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, Baker and Cubs players insisted at last week's Cubs convention that Sosa's presence wouldn't be a disruption to the team, fans weren't buying it. When his image appeared on a video, there was a loud chorus of boos.

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While Sosa is basically just above average nowadays, this still has to hurt the Cubs' chances this season unless they can sign Magglio Ordonez.

WOW... color me surprised

im a big a fan of swingin sammy.

He's not a needle abuser, he's a bat corker.

Can't he be both?

I'm borderline suicidal right now.

I'm still undecided on how i feel about this trade. On one hand, I do think that Sammy has wore out his welcome with the Cubs, and his production has been steadly decreasing. But, its hard for me to believe that they will be better without him. He is still one of the better power hitters in the league, and a threat in the lineup. I guess we shall see

As one of the few Orioles representatives on this board, I can't stress just how disappointed I am in this trade. WE NEED FUCKING PITCHING.

i heard this last night right before i went to bed ----- and i had very good dreams about right field in wrigley this summer w/ out the selfish, no drive to win, samME soso. so long, asshole.

hope you hit 900 HR's like you want - and never get a ring. Loser.

this is a great move, IF Hendry can find a left and right fielder to give the Cubs some production. If not, they may as well have kept him and either let him go at the end of the year, or try to deal him midseason to a team that thought it was gonna win the world series or something.

We should skip the bullshit and just make this a 'lets say some mean stuff about sosa" thread. I can't stand his overrated bat corking steroid munchin' ass. I hate when he runs out to right field like a he's a fucking gladiator or something. Hopping to first first base is getting really lame. He acted like such a dick when he lost the HR derby a few years back.

As the second O's fan on this board, I am indifferent. Cubs fans, you'll love Jerry Hariston. Sometimes he tries to swing for the fences too much, but he busts his ass all of the time. Sometimes, he works too hard, as he is very injury prone. He will steal bases, hit over .300 and play a pretty good second base for you.

As for Sosa, I think this is merely a move to create a buzz for ticket sales. O's fans are extremely disapointed with the activity this offseason and this move has ownership written all over it.

believe me, it wouldn't be the first I've started. Rick Reilly is a god.

sounds like there are still some kinks left in the deal... i wouldnt be surprised to see this not go through... physical, contract extension, etc etc

true - there are things that still need to happen --- BUT all parties want this deal to happen very badly. Cubs want to rid themselves of the cancer in the clubhouse, the field, and the batters box, Sosa wants to hit HR's instead of win, and Orioles need something to create a buzz and interest since they are now competing w/ the Washington Nationals.

not terrible for the O's, having Mora/Sosa/Tejada in their order

and the cubs get another guy who can't close (Jorge Julio) and Jerry Hairston Jr who, as long as he takes AB's from Todd Walker, makes me smile....altho Hairston's pretty athletic and can play all over.

i would have been happy if the cubs traded samME for a bucket of balls and some pine tar. the fact that they got actual players in return is just iciing on the cake.

I know your being sarcastic, but do you really think that this trade will help the team? I don't think that this trade improves the team whatsoever. The Cubs already have a quality starting second baseman, and really don't have much need for hairston. I don't think that who ever replaces Sammy will have a better season than him, IMO

The Cubs now have the worst outfield in baseball. Congrats!

Corey Patterson, David Kelton and Todd Hollandsworth? Wooo!

yes - honestly i think it will help the cubs. just from the standpoint of there will be no drama and distractions when the season starts. samME has been on constant decline in the past few years and his attitude sucks. i mean he said in a recent interview that i can play 5 or so more years to reach 600+ HRs. no mention of wanting to win a world series. so yes, i believe the cubs are better without him. his production - or lack there of - will not be missed. maybe it will be maggs, maybe somebody else. the TEAM matters, and i think the cubs will be more of a "team" without him. IMO.