Sosa’s Not Happy With Cubs’ Trade

Sammy Sosa met with Chicago General Manager Ed Lynch on Monday after the outfielder criticized the Cubs’ trade of Jose Hernandez.

The Cubs offered Hernandez a three-year contract late Saturday before the trading deadline but the infielder, who will be a free agent following this season, rejected it and was traded to Atlanta.

“They should have taken care of him before,” Sosa said after Sunday’s game. “They shouldn’t have waited until the last minute. I’m really, really disappointed.”

Hernandez and pitcher Terry Mulholland were traded to the Braves for pitcher Micah Bowie, who will start for Chicago today, a minor league pitcher and a player to be named.

Lynch called Sosa into Manager Jim Riggleman’s office before batting practice Monday.

“When Sammy speaks, I listen,” Lynch said later.

“[Lynch] explained everything to me,” Sosa said. “It’s something I have to agree with.”

Lynch told Sosa the Cubs had helped themselves for the future by acquiring the young players.

“I told him I want to be here for life and that I want to win,” Sosa said. “I don’t want to play just for the money.”

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Luis Gonzalez was rewarded for his career season with the Arizona Diamondbacks by signing a three-year, $12.5-million contract extension.

The deal includes a fourth year at $4 million at the club’s option. The contract includes a $1-million signing bonus.

“To me, this is like a dream come true to be somewhere where I’m really happy,” Gonzalez said.

The 31-year-old left fielder, obtained in a trade from Detroit in the off-season for Karim Garcia, earned $2 million this season, $500,000 of which was paid by the Tigers as part of the deal.

He got off to a hot start and has stayed hot all season. Gonzalez, a career .268 hitter before this season, is hitting .346, third-best in the NL.

Gonzalez had a 30-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors this season, and was named to the All-Star game for the first time.

Gonzalez said the new contract is good news to the triplets who were born in June 1998 and whose pictures adorn his locker.

“The triplets, they don’t know it yet, but they’re pretty happy,” he said. “When their mom and dad are happy, I’m sure they’re happy too.”