Soriano focused on winning with Cubs

MESA, Ariz. -- Alfonso Soriano couldn't get through his first Cactus League game Sunday before the Cubs outfielder's name was mentioned in trade rumors as a possible replacement on the Yankees for Curtis Granderson, who suffered a fractured right forearm.

"I hope [the Yankees] don't look that way because I feel comfortable here and I believe in this team," Soriano said after the Cubs beat the Giants, 4-3, at HoHoKam Stadium. "We have a better chance this year and I hope everybody stays healthy and we have a good April and we'll see what happens.

"I feel comfortable here with this group of guys -- they make me feel young," he said.

However, the Yankees were the first Major League team Soriano played for back in 1999. He played in two World Series with them (2001, 2003) but does not have a ring yet.

"That's the team that opened the door for me in the big leagues," Soriano said. "That was a long time ago."

Would he consider going to New York?

"I don't know," he said. "[Granderson's injury] happened today, and I don't know if they want to call or not. If they call for me, I have to think about it. I don't want to make a quick reaction and say 'yeah' or say 'no.' I want to think about it. I'm 37 years old so I have to think first what's good for me and for the team and for my family, too."

Last year at the Trade Deadline, Soriano drew some interest, and there were six or seven teams that he would have considered.

He does have a full no-trade clause.

"That was last year," he said. "At the Trade Deadline last year, there were six, seven teams that were contenders. Now, it's 2013, and no contenders because the season hasn't started yet. I have to see how we play first, the Cubs, and after that, maybe a couple months, if we're not playing good, they can decide what they want to do with me."

Does that mean he would reject any deal right now?

"I don't want to say no; I want to think about it first," he said. "There isn't a contender yet. There's a lot of good teams that have an 80, 90 percent chance to make the playoffs. We'll see. Today is the second game of Spring Training, and there's a lot of games and a lot of days to go, and I believe we have a better chance than last year.

"The first thing for me is to see the Cubs in the playoffs this year," he said. "I'm not thinking about another team; I'm not thinking I want to get traded. I just want to stay here and make the playoffs and go to the World Series with this team."

Soriano has two years remaining on his eight-year, $136 million deal with the Cubs. He came to Chicago for a reason.

"I want to give it one more chance -- I want to win here," he said. "It's been a long time not winning. I signed here to win and I prepared my mind from the first day I signed the contract to win a World Series here. If I go somewhere else, I want to feel good, but my dream is winning here."