Maddux: Burnitz deal makes Sosa trade work

Friday, Feb. 4, 2005 | 10:02 a.m.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Greg Maddux measured his words carefully Thursday afternoon when asked about slugger Sammy Sosa's departure from the team.

Sosa was traded to Baltimore last weekend, a move that was officially consummated Wednesday when Sosa passed a physical and was introduced at an Orioles press conference.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry moved quickly, however, to replace Sosa by signing lefthanded-hitting slugger Jeromy Burnitz.

Hendry moved so fast that Maddux, a Valley High graduate who turns 39 in April, didn't even know about the addition of Burnitz. Maddux quickly became more animated on his cell phone.

"Oh, did we? All right!" he said. "I've got to pick up a sports page once in a while. That's good. He has some left-handed pop. Yeah. I think Wrigley is a good field for him, especially with the wind blowing out.

"He can go the other way now, too. I know he's improved on that the last couple of years. I remember when I first started facing him that he was trying to pull every pitch. He's learned to go the other way."

Sosa had hit at least 40 home runs in six consecutive seasons until 2004, when injuries limited him to 478 plate appearances, his fewest in 10 seasons. He hit .253 last season with 35 home runs and 80 RBIs.

Burnitz hit .283, with 37 homers and 110 RBIs, for the Colorado Rockies in '04. In 47 games at Wrigley in his career, he has 14 homers and a .256 batting average.

Hendry tried to acquire Burnitz, who can play all outfield positions, in 2003, before the New York Mets sent him to the Dodgers.

Until Maddux discovered that Burnitz will be his teammate, he lamented the loss of Sosa and said his big bat would be difficult to replace.

Sosa clashed with Cubs manager Dusty Baker regularly last season.

Once widely popular in Chicago, Sosa's fall from grace began in '03, when he got caught using a corked bat. He reportedly did not handle criticism well, and Baker dropped him in the batting order in August.

Using a limousine to travel to and from hotels and games on the road -- he rarely even opened his own door -- added to a growing spoiled image.

He told a Chicago Sun-Times reporter that he left last season's last game in the seventh inning, then the Cubs released a security camera tape that showed Sosa had actually departed 15 minutes after the first pitch.

That drew an $87,400 fine from the club.

The Cubs will reportedly pay Sosa approximately $20 million in '05 salary and severance. Burnitz was signed for $4.5 million. If the Cubs don't exercise a $500,000 buyout after the season, he will earn $7 million in '06.

Sosa bought full-page goodbye ads, thanking Chicago fans, in the Thursday editions of the Tribune and Sun-Times. Maddux, a consummate professional who always keeps clubhouse matters private, refused to label Sosa.

The Cubs (89-73) imploded during the last week of the season, finishing three games behind Houston for the National League Wild Card and two behind San Francisco.

"There's a million different things to be distracted by," Maddux said. "Either you let them distract you or you don't. (Sosa) did some things. I'm sure I did some things, and the other 23 guys did some things to distract others.

"I never let anything he did distract me. I enjoyed watching him play and having him as a teammate, and I wish him success in Baltimore."

Cubs pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 16.

The team is scheduled to play exhibition games against the Seattle Mariners at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on April 1 and 2, then open the regular season in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks on April 4.

Maddux said that tight time frame might preclude him from even making the trip to Las Vegas, much less pitching for the first time as a major leaguer in his hometown.

"It would be nice to pitch here in Las Vegas, but I don't want to lose sight of the fact that it still is spring training," Maddux said. "However Dusty wants to set up the rotation for the season, that's what is important.

"If it's my day to pitch, I'd love to pitch. I'd like to come on the trip, just for a chance to play in my hometown for a change. But whether I get a chance to pitch or not, if I have the opportunity to come, I'll come."