Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
For years now, Alfonso Soriano has been the subject of trade rumors between the Chicago Cubs and any team looking for a veteran outfielder. He can hit, he’s not too bad in the field and he has some speed to burn — although it’s been a while since all three were exhibited in the same season.
Soriano has been a solid outfielder for years and when he transitioned from second base to outfield, he knew he had the athleticism to make the easy switch.
It’s been five years since he had a batting average that exceeded .265 and even longer since he’s had a high on-base percentage. Sure, Soriano has plenty of power and his possible stealing base option is something that will never go out of style, but the guy is 37-years old and on the way down.
He’s been on the decline for years. Last year was a bit different, however, as he experienced a bit of rejuvenation. He had his first 100-plus RBI season since 2005 and also hit 32 home runs — his highest mark since 2007. Like I said before, however, he is getting old and the guy isn’t getting any better. He’s never hit over .300, just reaching the mark on the dot once in his career.
Soriano has seen his batting numbers suffer so far this season. His seven home runs puts him on pace for about 15 homers and about 60 RBIs — both would be either career-lows or close to it.
It’s not just a bad season for Soriano; it’s expected to be the norm for the aging outfielder from this point on. He may be wanted by many teams, but he shouldn’t be, even if Cubs fans are hoping his age doesn’t get the best of him and his trade value remains high.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
