Alfonso Soriano still here — for better or worse

He's still here.

Despite all the predictions from some in the media that Alfonso Soriano no longer would be a Cub by spring training or by Opening Day at the latest, the status has remained decidedly quo.

The Cubs are doing their best to paint that in the best light possible.

Team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have pointed to Soriano's power-hitting ability ... and ... to his power-hitting ability ... and ... to his power-hitting ability.

In other words, there's not much more the 36-year-old left fielder can do these days other than hit the ball out of the ballpark.

That's a far cry from the 40/40 player the Cubs thought they were getting back in the fall of 2006 when then-GM Jim Hendry, with a little help from his bosses at the Tribune Co. bestowed on Soriano an eight-year contract worth $136 million.

The good news is that only three years remain on the contract.

The bad news is that three years and $54 million remain on the contract.

Soriano also has a no-trade clause, something he has said he'd waive if the Cubs didn't want him. Whether they've tried to trade him or not, there seems to be few takers, even in the American League, where Soriano could DH.

So like the Cubs themselves, fans must make the best of the situation. That's not an entirely bad thing. Soriano looks like he came to spring training in good shape. He hit 2 home runs in a Cactus League game earlier this week, fueling hope that he again can hit between 25 and 30 homers and drive in between 80 and 90 runs.

And it's not like the Cubs have a sulking Sammy Sosa or a malcontent on their hands or in their clubhouse. Soriano is one of the nicest and most pleasant guys in the game, and his teammates seem genuinely to like him.

There are ways Soriano can help — and not hurt — the Cubs until they can move him, if they see fit to do so. Let's take a look at a couple of those ways and at the future of left field.

Keep hitting:

As long as pitchers throw Soriano fastballs, he can still crush mistakes. He hit 26 home runs last year, his highest total as a Cub since he hit 29 in 2008.

His hitting line last year was .244/.289/.469 with 88 RBI, 27 walks and 113 strikeouts in 475 at-bats.

As a Cub, he has hit 132 home runs in five seasons with a line of .266/.320/.498.

His .759 OPS ranked 40th among National League regulars, hardly the stuff of superstar contracts, but in the parlance of the day, that is what it is.

The Cubs have talked this spring of Soriano batting either fourth or first (again) after he spent the last two years in the lower half of the order.

The .289 on-base percentage does nothing to inspire confidence as a leadoff hitter, especially since the Cubs have David DeJesus to fill that role.

Think seventh inning:

Much has been made of Soriano's lack of mobility and poor defense in left field. That talk won't go away. He also has lost the knack for throwing out runners on the bases.

So the best course would be for manager Dale Sveum to remove Soriano in the seventh or eighth inning for defense.

The Cubs will just have to live with things such as Soriano's little “hop” that he does when he catches (or attempts to catch) flyballs and his reluctance to get acquainted with the left-field wall at Wrigley Field.

The future:

Soriano is here until he isn't, and the Cubs have said they won't rush their minor-league prospects. But it is fun to imagine an outfield in the not-too-distant future of Matt Szczur, Brett Jackson and David DeJesus.

Jackson is a center fielder who has made his presence field in the early going of spring training. The Cubs signed DeJesus to a two-year deal to play right field.

Szczur, a 22-year-old former football star from Villanova, is on the 40-man roster, but he still needs game experience. Szczur, an outstanding athlete, hit 10 home runs last year in two Class A stops. Jackson hit a combined 20 between Class AA Tennessee and Class AAA Iowa. The Cubs will want some power from at least one of the corner-outfield spots — DeJesus is not a power hitter — and it will be interesting to watch Szczur's development this year. But before long, the Cubs should be able to go get 'em in the outfield at all three spots.

bmiles@dailyherald.com

Tops in the NL

Bruce Miles ranks the left fielders

1. Ryan Braun, Brewers

2. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies

3. Matt Holliday, Cardinals

10. Alfonso Soriano, CUBS