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."