Phil Rogers's post on Baseball | Latest updates on Sulia

Dale Sveum gave Alfonso Soriano the day off today, and the Cubs felt his absence. They lost to the Pirates 3-2 as Sveum got the veteran a 2-day break heading into the weekend series against the Cardinals at sweltering Wrigley Field. But in a trade-deadline landscape where nothing seems off limits, could the Cubs find a taker for him? He is, after all, hitting .274 with an .877 OPS and projects to deliver 32 homers and 98 RBIs at his current pace. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes that at least one unnamed team has inquired about Soriano, with any deal contingent on how much of the $42 million left on his deal the Cubs would swallow. Morosi speculates about the Dodgers, Giants, Indians and Pirates, but fails to mention a team I think could be the best fit, the Rays. The offer to make is Bryan LaHair, Soriano and about $27.5 million for Luke Scott (just taking back a salary) and a nice group of prospects, hopefully including Chris Archer. LaHair would take over for Carlos Pena at first base next year, and given that the Rays paid Pena $7 million this year, I figure they should pay that much of Soriano's $18-million a year. He could be a very good fit as a primary DH based at Tropicana Field, with the only concern being the impact of the field turf on his knees.