Alfonso Soriano hasn't produced as much as the Cubs had hoped when he signed an eight-year, $136 million contract.
He was booed when introduced during opening ceremonies at the Cubs Convention.
"They don't see me as a baseball player," Soriano said of the fans. "They see me as the contract. They don't see my heart, nothing like that. That's what it is. I know I have a big heart."
Soriano's teammates understand his plight and they believe in him.
"You give anyone $136 million and unless he's in the top 10 in the MVP every year, he's going to get booed," Marlon Byrd said. "It'll be interesting to see what happens with Albert [Pujols] with the money he got [from the Angels]. [Alex Rodriguez] is one of the best right-handed hitters of all time and he was booed in New York.
"Once you get that contract, it happens," Byrd added. "'Sori' is used to the boos and it doesn't bother him. It's all worth it when he gets those cheers, and that's what he loves. When he hits that big home run and goes to the outfield and the entire left field is applauding him and bowing to him, that's what he loves. Boos come with the big market. He played in New York, he knows what that's about."
Cubs manager Dale Sveum has heard about Soriano's work ethic.
"He's a guy who still put up 28 home runs and drove in almost 90 runs," Sveum said of Soriano, who hit 26 homers and drove in 88 runs in 137 games last season. "You need that kind of bat in the lineup."
Via MLB.com
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The Cubs got a scare on Monday when right-hander Kerry Wood hit Starlin Castro in the wrist with a fastball.
Castro walked out of the cage in obvious pain, holding his right hand. He showed off a red welt on his forearm afterward, but said he was fine.
"I was never scared," he said. "I'm only scared if it hits me in the head."
Via Chicago Tribune
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The Cubs will send reliever Chris Carpenter to the Red Sox as compensation for letting Theo Epstein out of his contract.
Chicago and Boston will also exchange a player to be named later.
The process of settling compensation had taken four months to the day since Epstein quit the Red Sox.
Carpenter, a 26-year-old righthander, is a prospect who has played in 10 major league games.
Via Boston Globe
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Cubs Feb 2012 Archive
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Chicago Tribune | Feb 21, 2012
The Cubs informed first base prospect Bryan LaHair this offseason that they didn't intend on trying to sign Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder.
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Chicago Tribune | Feb 19, 2012
The White Sox have lowered their payroll this offseason, which may allow them to make a big offer to Jorge Soler.
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Bruce Levine/ESPN.com | Feb 19, 2012
The Cubs expect Starlin Castro to report to Spring Training on time despite some legal issues.
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Gordon Edes/ESPN.com | Feb 18, 2012
The Cubs still haven't compensated the Red Sox for allowing Theo Epstein to leave.
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Doug Padilla/ESPN.com | Feb 18, 2012
The Cubs designated Blake DeWitt for assignment a few weeks ago.
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Yahoo! Sports | Feb 17, 2012
The Cubs want Jorge Soler, but since he can't be signed yet the Phillies and Yankees are trying to enter the bidding.
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CSN Chicago | Feb 15, 2012
The top contenders to sign Jorge Soler are the Cubs, Yankees, Phillies, Rangers and Marlins.
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Chicago Tribune | Feb 14, 2012
The Cubs are expected to add Jorge Soler after acquiring Gerardo Concepcion, according to multiple reports.
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Associated Press | Feb 14, 2012
The Red Sox and Cubs have submitted written arguments to Bud Selig on what compensation Boston should receive for allowing Theo Epstein to leave for Chicago.
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ESPN.com | Feb 14, 2012
The Red Sox and Cubs have submitted arguments to Bud Selig on what compensation Boston should receive for allowing Theo Epstein to leave for Chicago.
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CSN Chicago | Feb 13, 2012
The Cubs have turned their attention to Jorge Soler with Yoenis Cespedes having signed with Oakland.
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Boston Herald | Feb 13, 2012
Theo Epstein left Boston as general manager with a year on his contract to join Chicago as their president of baseball operations.
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ESPN.com | Feb 10, 2012
Matt Garza avoided arbitration with Chicago by signing a one-year, $9.5 million deal on Feb. 3.
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ESPN.com | Feb 10, 2012
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer says that it's unlikely Alfonso Soriano will start the season with another team.
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Bruce Levine/ESPN.com | Feb 8, 2012
The Cubs and Marlins are the two teams that have been most linked to Cespedes.
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ESPN.com | Feb 7, 2012
The Cubs designated Blake DeWitt for assignment on Monday after claiming Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Athletics.
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Jon Paul Morosi/FOX Sports | Feb 6, 2012
Matt Garza went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 31 games for Chicago during the 2011 season.
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Bruce Levine/ESPN.com | Feb 3, 2012
The Cubs have avoided arbitration with Matt Garza by agreeing to a one-year, $9.5 million deal.
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MLB.com | Feb 3, 2012
Yoenis Cespedes could begin visiting Major League teams next week and the Marlins continue to show strong interest.
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Enrique Rojas/ESPN.com | Feb 3, 2012
Gerardo Concepcion will earn $7 million in guaranteed money from the Cubs.
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Bruce Levine/ESPN.com | Feb 2, 2012
Matt Garza is asking for $12.5 million, but Chicago has countered with $7.95 million.
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Chicago Tribune | Feb 2, 2012
Matt Garza was the MVP of the 2008 series, while with the Rays, after beating the Red Sox twice.
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Bruce Levine/ESPN.com | Feb 2, 2012
Their major needs center around a utility middle infielder and a backup catcher with major league experience.
