CHICAGO, Illinois, 2 November 2003 — The Chicago Cubs are recovering from a heartbreaking loss in the National League Championship Series, but at least they do not have to worry about losing Sammy Sosa.
One of Major League Baseball’s premier sluggers, Sosa announced on Friday that he will not opt out of the final two years of his four-year contract with the Cubs.
He had until Saturday to opt out of his deal and will earn $16 million in 2004 and $18 million in 2005.
“I have said all along I wanted to remain a Cub forever,” Sosa said.
Ramirez Goes Untouched
While on Waivers
The Boston Red Sox put slugger Manny Ramirez on irrevocable waivers on Wednesday, enabling him to be claimed by any team willing to take on the roughly $101.5 million owed him over the next five years.
But the deadline passed Friday with no teams willing to take on Ramirez’s astronomical salary.
He will make $20.5 million in 2004. Since Ramirez went unclaimed, he will remain with the Red Sox.
The 31-year-old Ramirez, who won the Silver Slugger Award as one of the top three hitting outfielders, is among baseball’s best run producers.
He is coming off a season in which he hit .325 with 37 homers and 104 RBI.
An average defensive left fielder at best, Ramirez is prone to mental lapses that have made him an extremely frustrating commodity for Boston.
Ramirez delivered a key three-run homer in Game Five of the AL Division Series against Oakland and batted .310 with two homers, four RBI and six runs scored in 29 at-bats.
