Alfonso Soriano

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Alfonso Soriano

Chicago Cubs — No. 12
Outfield
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 14, 1999 for the New York Yankees
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006 season)
Batting average	.280
Home runs	208
Runs batted in	560
Former teams
New York Yankees (1999 – 2003) Texas Rangers (2004 - 2005) Washington Nationals (2006) Chicago Cubs (2007 - Present)

Alfonso Soriano (born January 7, 1976 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs.

Contents 1 Japan 2 Major League Baseball 2.1 New York Yankees 2.2 Texas Rangers 2.3 Washington Nationals 2.4 Chicago Cubs 3 Trivia 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Japan

Soriano began his professional baseball career in Japan with the Hiroshima Carp, training at their Carp Academy for Dominican players. In 1997, he was promoted briefly to the varsity team, and, wearing uniform number 74, he appeared in nine games, batting .181 (2 for 17) with two walks. In 1997, Soriano earned a salary of $40,000.[1] Soriano finished his career in Japan by retiring from his contract and signing as a free agent with the New York Yankees, using a loophole that had previously been used by Hideo Nomo.

[edit] Major League Baseball

[edit] New York Yankees

Soriano signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees in 1998, starting his career as a second baseman, and played in New York for five seasons. In 2002, Soriano led the American League with 696 at bats, 209 hits, 92 extra base hits, 41 stolen bases, 128 runs and set a Yankees team record for most at Bats (696) and most strikeouts (157) in a season. In 2003, Soriano set the record for most leadoff home runs in a season with 13.

[edit] Texas Rangers

In 2004, the Yankees traded Soriano to the Texas Rangers (along with minor leaguer Joaquin Arias) for Alex Rodriguez and cash amounting to $67 million of the $179 million remaining on Rodríguez's contract.[2]

On May 8, 2004, Soriano had six hits in nine innings -- the first Texas Ranger to do so -- in a 16-15, 10-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers. (The game featured a bizarre, hour-long fifth inning, where Detroit scored eight runs in the top half of the inning to take a 10-run lead over the Rangers, only to see Texas score 10 runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game, the largest deficit ever overcome by the Rangers and tying a MLB record for most runs in an inning by two teams.) That same year, Soriano was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game as the starting second baseman. He hit a three-run home run off of Roger Clemens in the first inning and was named the MLB All-Star MVP.

In 2005 he finished sixth in the AL for stolen bases, and third for extra base hits (as well as eighth for strike-outs).

[edit] Washington Nationals

On December 7, 2005, Soriano was traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge, and minor league pitcher Armando Galarraga. On February 10, 2006, Soriano set a record for the highest salary ever awarded in arbitration, receiving $10 million, even though he lost his request of $12 million. The previous high was set in 2001 by Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves when he earned $8.2 million. The Nationals offered Soriano a five-year, $50-million extension, but Soriano rejected the offer. [3] Soriano and his agent Diego Bentz have opted to open contract negotiations during the off-season, as he becomes a free agent and would be capable of earning a greater salary.

On March 20, 2006, Nationals manager Frank Robinson wrote Soriano in the lineup to play left field. Soriano refused to take the field, and the Nationals organization threatened him with disqualification, which would have meant forfeiture of his salary, and he would not have received credit for service time in fulfillment of the obligations of his contract. With his contract's service terms officially still unfulfilled, he would then not have been eligible for free agency at season's end.

Two days later, Soriano relented and played in left field for the Nationals in their exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Robinson indicated that he considered Soriano's move to left field to be permanent and he will not consider moving Soriano back to second base at any point this season. In his comments following that game, Soriano indicated that he would accept his new position without further argument. As the season got underway, however, Soriano began to enjoy his new position, and by the All-Star break, he led the league in outfield assists and became one of the few players ever to start the All-Star game at two different positions.

Soriano has enjoyed the greatest season in his career in 2006. He shattered his previous career high in walks with 67 (previously 38). He also reached a career high in home runs with 46 (previously 39). He also had 41 stolen bases. On August 25, a week after reaching 30-30, he became the fastest man in baseball history to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, reaching the mark in 929 games. The previous fastest player to 200/200 was Eric Davis in 1,053 games. [4]. In September, he completed his 20th outfield assist, becoming the only player in baseball history with 40 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 20 assists. [5] By joining the 40-40 club, he becomes the only player in baseball history with 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases, and 20 outfield assists.

On September 16, 2006, Soriano stole second base in the 1st inning to become the fourth player to join the 40-40 Club. Soriano joins Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez in this exclusive club. On September 22, 2006 he became the first person ever to reach 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 40 doubles all in one season, making him the only member of the 40-40-40 club.

Soriano also became the third man to start All-Star games for both leagues at two different positions. He was also an All-Star for five consecutive seasons from 2002 - 2006.

As the trading deadline of July 31 approached, the Nationals were in a dilemma. On one hand, Soriano had initially expressed his distaste for playing left field, and he was in the last year of his contract, which would grant him free agency at the end of the season. If the Nationals lost Soriano at the end of the season, they would receive a first or second round draft pick and a "sandwich" pick in between the first and second round as compensation. Soriano also did not want to engage in contract negotiations during the season. On the other hand, as the deadline approached, Soriano expressed his enjoyment with left field, and his strong desire to stay with the team. [6] Both fans and players began to be more vocal in their support to keep Soriano. Manager Frank Robinson praised Soriano's leadership in the clubhouse, and further suggested that Soriano should be considered for MVP of the National League. In the end, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden felt that what he was offered was not worth trading him. The "non-trade" is a risk for the Nationals and made headlines across the country. [7]. The Nationals hoped to sign him to a long term deal before the season ended but on October 12, 2006 he rejected a 70 million dollar deal. [8]

[edit] Chicago Cubs

On November 19, 2006 Chicago radio stations 670 The Score and ESPN Radio 1000 reported that the Chicago Cubs and Soriano had agreed to an eight year contract worth $136 million totalling an average of $17 million per year. On November 20, 2006 the deal was made official. He is expected to play center field for the Cubs. [9]

[edit] Trivia

• Started as third baseman, then switched to shortstop, then switched to second base, then switched to left field, and finally center field. He may make another switch again, as he may be moved to right field if top center field prospect Felix Pie is called up.[10]
• Soriano attended Eugenio Maria de Hostos High School in the Dominican Republic.[11]
• His favorite food is ice cream.
• Is the fourth player to join the 40-40 club in Major League Baseball. He has the most homeruns for any player in the 40-40 club with 46.[12]
• First player in baseball history to make the 40-40-40 club. (40 homeruns, 40 steals, 40 doubles) [13]
• Has three children. Two daughters named Alisis and Angeline, and a son named Alfonso Jr. He gave his cleats (from his 40th stolen base in 2006) and his batting gloves (from his 40th homerun in 2006) to his children.[14]
• He is the 5th best-paid player in Major League Baseball as of 2007. He currently earns more than his new teammates, Aramis Ramírez and Derrek Lee, who both received large contracts within the last year.

[edit] See also

• 30-30 club
• 40-40 club
• 40-40-40 club
• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• List of players from Dominican Republic in MLB

[edit] External links

• Baseball Prospectus: Alfonso Soriano
• Alfonso Soriano's career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
• Alfonso Soriano at ESPN.com
• Major League Baseball Player Information

Preceded by Manny Ramirez	American League Player of the Month April, 2003	Succeeded by Edgar Martinez
Preceded by Alex Rodriguez	American League Player of the Month September, 2003	Succeeded by Carlos Beltrán
Preceded by Garrett Anderson	Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player 2004	Succeeded by Miguel Tejada
Preceded by Bret Boone	American League Silver Slugger Award (2B) 2004 - 2005	Succeeded by Robinson Cano
Preceded by Andruw Jones, Carlos Lee, Miguel Cabrera	National League Silver Slugger Award (OF) 2006	Succeeded by Incumbent