Soriano would love to stay in Chicago

Add Alfonso Soriano to the list of Cubs who says he wants to stay in Chicago. But he also made it sound Tuesday that he wouldn't stand in the Cubs' way if they did want to move him.

"I'm not worried about it," the expensive left fielder said. "I don't have control of that situation. My control is just to go out there and play nine innings. Next year I have the control, but this year, I don't have the control. If somebody comes out and tells me they want to trade me, I put it on them because I don't want to try and not get traded if they don't want me."

Actually, Soriano does have control of the situation. He has a full no-trade clause in his contract and earns 10-and-5 rights after this season is over.

But the no-trade doesn't seem to be an obstacle if the Cubs can move him in the right deal.

That won't be easy. After this year, Soriano still has three years to go on his eight-year, $136 million contract. The backloaded deal pays him $18 million per season for each of the final three years.

The Cubs would no doubt have to eat significant money to move Soriano, who entered Tuesday having not homered in a month and with a hitting line in July of .205/.239/.250.

"Everybody likes it here because it's a great city, a great ballpark, great fans," he said. "I like it here, so I don't want to leave."

Making progress:Manager Mike Quade said he was reasonably pleased with reliever Carlos Marmol, who walked two and struck out two in 1 inning of relief Monday night in a non-save situation. "I thought he was sharper last than he has been, which is a good sign," Quade said. "Working back in the right direction."Quade said he would continue to look at situations when save chances come along. Lefty Sean Marshall appears to be the go-to guy when it's not Marmol, with Kerry Wood also available. "I look at the step Marm made," Quade said. "I look at Marshall and how good he's been. We'll look at those two and Woody."Talking it over:Mike Quade said he talked with Joe Torre, Major League Baseball's executive vice president, on Tuesday. The subject was Quade's postgame criticism of umpires after Sundays' 7-5 loss to the Marlins. He'll now await word of any possible fine from Torre's office. "That's over," Quade said. "But I talked to Joe today, at length. I'm going to let them take it from there. I'll wait and see. The one thing that's great about having Joe is that he's handling that situation. He's been on both sides. He gives you an opportunity to explain. It's not just cut and dried. We had a long discussion, a good discussion."