January 20, 200422 yr Author 01/20/2004 1:17 PM ET Yankees ink Soriano to new deal By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com NEW YORK -- Alfonso Soriano's back-to-back breakout seasons earned him a big raise, as the All-Star second baseman and the Yankees came to terms on a one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration. Soriano, who turned 26 earlier this month, will earn $5.4 million in 2004, according to The Associated Press. Soriano made $800,000 last season, his third full year in the Majors. He is not eligible for free agency until the end of the 2005 season. The American League's starting All-Star second baseman in each of the past two years, Soriano enters the 2004 season looking to reach the 35-home run, 35-stolen base mark for a third consecutive year. Soriano hit .300 with 39 homers, 102 RBIs and 41 steals in 2002, but his stats dropped slightly in 2003, when he hit .290 with 38 long balls, 91 RBIs and 35 swipes. Soriano struggled through the Yankees' 2003 postseason, batting just .225 with one homer and nine RBIs in 17 October contests. He went 4-for-30 (.133) against the Red Sox in the AL Championship Series and 5-for-22 (.227) in the six-game World Series loss to the Marlins. New York hired Don Mattingly as its new hitting coach for the 2004 campaign, a move that should benefit the free-swinging Soriano. Last year, Soriano struck out 135 times (down from 157 in 2002) and walked just 38 times (up from 23 in 2002), so Mattingly will surely work with the youngster on taking a more patient approach at the plate. Soriano has been the Yankees' leadoff hitter for the past two seasons, but that will likely change this season with the addition of center fielder Kenny Lofton. Manager Joe Torre will probably drop Soriano down to the sixth or seventh spot to give him more chances to drive in runs. Soriano is the fourth arbitration-eligible player to sign with the Yankees this winter, joining Aaron Boone and Enrique Wilson, who agreed to one-year contracts in December, and Javier Vazquez, who inked a four-year deal earlier this month. Reliever Gabe White is also arbitration-eligible. Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
January 20, 200422 yr we should of signed him low term when his "value" was low and now that the economy is recovering, he is only going to be more expensive. Oh well.
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