Alfonso Soriano Designated For Assignment, Could Spell End Of His Career

The second Alfonso Soriano era is over for the New York Yankees.

The 38-year-old slugger was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, giving the team 10 days to either trade, release, or waive him. The roster move makes space for right-handed pitcher Bruce Billings.

After the roster move was announced, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said it was not an easy decision.

“We designated Soriano, which is extremely difficult because he’s been a great Yankee and been a great player,” Girardi said. “We felt we needed some more pitching today, so we called up Billings. Bullpen has been extremely taxed.”

Soriano is hitting.221 this season 6 home runs and 23 RBI.

Even Alfonso Soriano said he knew the move was coming.

“It was to be expected,” Soriano told ESPNdeportes.com. “I had already talked to my lawyer about the situation I was going through, and how I was being used in the game, and how I didn’t feel comfortable. This decision is a favorable one for both, me and the team.”

After helping lead the Yankees to World Series titles in 1999 and 2000, Soriano jumped around the league before being traded back to the Yankees last season.

Soriano had already stated that he might retire after this season if his performance declined, but on Sunday said he hadn’t decided on his future just yet.

“Right now I haven’t made any decision,” Alfonso Soriano told ESPNdeportes.com. “I am going to travel to go spend time with my family, and thereafter I have a week to decide what I want to do. I am calm, and I believe that it was a good decision by the team. I’m glad that now that I have been released I will have the opportunity to decide what I want to do next, and the team can go ahead and find someone to do the job I was unable to do.”