Alfonso Soriano is the current left-fielder for the National League's Chicago Cubs. He began his professional career in Japan, playing for the Hiroshima Carp. He got out of his Japanese contract by retiring from professional baseball so that he could become a free agent and sign with the New York Yankees. After five seasons as a leadoff hitter there, he was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for shortstop Alex Rodriguez. After two more seasons in Arlington he was traded again to the Washington Nationals. In Spring Training his new team converted him from his traditional position at second base to left field. That year he gained the distinction of being the fourth player to enter the 40-40 club, hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases during the same season. He eventually rejected a contract offer from the Nationals and became a free agent. That offseason he signed an eight year $136 million dollar deal with the Chicago Cubs, the largest contract the team has ever given out. After a brief experiment with playing center field, the team moved him back to left field, where he remains.
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