The courting of Sammy Sosa lasted longer than previously believed -- but which Jim Bowden said Wednesday night was officially, completely dead.
"The Sammy Sosa issue is now behind us," Bowden said, echoing similar words he said a week ago -- words that, at the time, were premature, it now appears.
A team source revealed Wednesday that the team's highest offer to Sosa was not $500,000, as previously reported, but $1 million. Still, the source said Sosa was more concerned with the non-guaranteed nature of the offer--the team could have cut him by March 15 without paying him -- than by the financial terms.
It appears, however, that Sosa considered the Nationals' $1 million offer. "I don't think the money has ever been the issue with Sammy," Bowden said. "His decision has been whether he wants to play or not."
Sosa To Nationals Finally Officially Dead