Sosa could leave for Yanks if Cubs miss playoffs

Sept. 23 - If the Chicago Cubs don’t reach the playoffs this season, Sammy Sosa probably won’t return to the team in 2004. The Chicago Sun Times reported Monday that Sosa likely will opt of his contract and possibly join the New York Yankees next season.

SOSA TOLD the newspaper he intends to be “a businessman” first at season’s end, and even after his corked-bat scandal, agent Adam Katz reiterated to the Sun Times Sosa will at least inspect the marketplace after winning the out clause in contentious negotiations with Cubs boss Andy MacPhail.

If Sosa does remain with the Cubs, he will earn $33 million over the next two seasons.

“That is something I don’t want to talk about until after the season,” Sosa told the paper.

Cubs fans may not be so unhappy to see Sosa leave. While the Cubs are in hopes of a playoff berth, Sosa has struggled in September. In the past 12 games, Sosa is hitting .160 with two homers and 14 strikeouts.

Katz approached the Cubs about a two-year extension before the season but was turned down, the Sun-Times reported.

The distraction of Sosa’s contract is not a good thing at this time.

The Cubs are within reach of their first division title in 14 years and are in the middle of a critical final week of the regular season.

Though they also are in the NL wild card chase, the Cubs are mainly focused on beating out Houston in the NL Central.

Following a series in Cincinnati, Chicago finishes its season with three home games against Pittsburgh. The Astros are at home for their six games, with West-leading San Francisco and four against Milwaukee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.