Alfonso Soriano

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune suggests the Cubs could ask for Brian Roberts in return for Alfonso Soriano.

Roberts has fallen out of favor with the Orioles and is owed $10 million for each of the next two seasons. The Chicago Tribune speculates that a reasonable deal could have the Cubs sending Soriano and $9 million for Roberts and a prospect or two, assuming that both players would be willing to waive their no-trade clause. Given the amount of money still owed on Soriano’s contract, Chicago’s only option may be to take on a bad contract in any potential trade. Roberts played just 39 games last season, but would offer short-term value if he’s able to bounce back this year from his post-concussion syndrome.

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that the Orioles have spoken to the Cubs about a potential trade involving Alfonso Soriano.

Kubatko cautions that the talks “may not have gone far” and it’s not clear if there’s still any dialogue between the two clubs. ESPN Chicago’s Bruce Levine reported Thursday that the Cubs have spoken to eight AL teams about Soriano, while FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal says they couldn’t find a match after talking to “a few teams.” The O’s would likely want Soriano as a DH, though it doesn’t appear that the 36-year-old is close to being dealt anywhere at this point.

According to ESPN Chicago’s Bruce Levine, the Cubs have spoken to eight AL teams about Alfonso Soriano.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported Thursday that the Red Sox have expressed interest, but it’s not clear whether talks have grown serious. Soriano is owed $54 million over the next three years, but the Cubs are telling teams that they are willing to eat half of that. The 35-year-old outfielder batted .244 with a .759 OPS in 2011.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox are not interested in Alfonso Soriano.

The Cubs just unloaded Carlos Zambrano (and most of his 2012 salary) on the Marlins, but finding a willing trade partner for Soriano will be a very tall order. Previous reports have indicated the the Cubs are willing to cover half of the $54 million left on his contract, but the reality is they’d probably have to do better than that. Soriano, who turns 36 on Saturday, batted .244/.289/.469 with 26 homers and a .759 OPS in 2011.