Phillies Hot Stove: Alfonso Soriano Your New Outfielder

Sept 12, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano (12) hits a home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

There have been numerous reports coming out in the past couple of days talking about the Phillies being a good fit for Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano. The reason why this is being brought up is because FOX Sports Jon Paul Morosi reported that the Cubs just might trade Soriano.

The question is: Should the Phillies take a look at this old outfielder? Remember this is not the Alfonso Soriano of the New York Yankees back in his hay day. Soriano is 36 years old and remember if you are the Phillies you want to get younger not older.

Last season, in 151 games played with the Cubs, Soriano had a great year with 32 home runs, 1o8 RBIs, and a .262 batting average. By his numbers alone last season makes him enticing to trade for but you have to remember his contract situation. Soriano signed an eight year, $136 million contract with the Cubs back in November of 2006 and he is due to make $18 million this upcoming season. So that could scare the Phillies away and also he can only play left field.

Left field is a position that the Phillies do not need to go after because they have Darin Ruf and Domonic Brown. We finally saw some growth from Brown last season after the Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino trades.

If I’m the Phillies and if you want Soriano, then do it at the right price. Do not give up your best prospects for an aging outfielder instead give up some second tier prospects that have already hit their ceiling. Let’s keep an eye on this possible rumor because there might be some buzz to this.

Jovan Alford is a staff writer for The Sixer Sense, a writer for Buzz On Broad covering the Philadelphia 76ers and Local College Basketball, and is a writer for Rant Sports covering the A-10 Conference for College Basketball.

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For any inquiries contact me via email: jovan.alford@gmail.com