Cubs rumors: Willing to eat Alfonso Soriano's contract

The Chicago Cubs are willing to pay about $26 million of the $36 million outfielder Alfonso Soriano has remaining on his current contract if they are able to get the "right prospect" in return, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

#cubs are willing to pay about $26M of soriano's $36M if they get right prospect back. seems reasonable. 30/100 last yr

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 13, 2012

Last season for the Cub Soriano posted his best numbers in years. The outfielder hit .262/.322/.499 with 33 doubles, two triples, 32 home runs and six stolen bases in eight attempts. The 36-year-old has averaged over 30 doubles and 26 home runs per season over the last five years and owns a career line of .273/.323/.505 over 14 seasons at the major league level.

The Cubs have previously discussed Soriano with the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. While the Phillies were initially uninterested in the veteran slugger, they were said to be reconsidering and began kicking the tires recently.

The Astros are in need of a designated hitter, and the Cubs shopped Soriano to Houston as just that. However, the newest member of the American League West reportedly can't afford Soriano, even with the Cubs eating a large portion of his remaining deal.