With the Trade Official, Sosa Is Ready for Orioles

Tapping his heart and thrusting both thumbs upward, Sammy Sosa stepped to the podium and flashed the broad smile that Chicago Cub fans know too well.

Sosa loved his 13 seasons with the Cubs, yet he put all that behind him Wednesday upon joining the Baltimore Orioles.

“I gave Chicago everything that I have. It was a beautiful experience for my wife and family,” he said. “I had a great time in Chicago, but you have to move on. This is my new house, and I love it.”

Sosa joined the Orioles after Commissioner Bud Selig approved the deal and the slugger passed his physical. Chicago received second baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. and two minor leaguers, second baseman Mike Fontenot and right-handed pitcher Dave Crouthers.

Under terms of the addendum to Sosa’s contract that he signed Wednesday, the Cubs will pay $16.15 million of the $25 million Sosa is still owed under his $72-million, four-year agreement.

Baltimore is responsible for only $8.85 million of Sosa’s $17-million salary this year, with the Cubs paying the rest.

Because Sosa is paid on a 12-month basis and already had received $1,307,692 of his salary this year, that amount was credited to what the Cubs owe Baltimore, meaning the Orioles will receive $6,842,308 in cash from Chicago.

As part of the trade, Chicago will pay Sosa $3.5 million in severance within 30 days. The $18-million 2006 option in his contract was eliminated, and the $4.5-million buyout was converted to a $4.5-million assignment bonus, which the Cubs must pay by March 15. He also agreed to eliminate the $19-million option for 2007 that his contract said would be added if he was traded.

“It’s a good situation for Sammy, it’s a good situation for the Baltimore Orioles and it’s also something we feel is in our best interests,” Cub General Manager Jim Hendry said.

“Sammy has done tremendous things for this organization and the game.”

Even though his bat isn’t as potent as it was five years ago, the 36-year-old Sosa hit 35 homers in only 126 games last season.

The Cubs made an immediate move to shore up its lineup, agreeing to a one-year contract with Jeromy Burnitz that guarantees the outfielder $5 million.