Soriano headed back to the Bronx

Phoenix, AZ – Alfonso Soriano is headed back to where his career began in 1999.

The New York Yankees have apparently acquired the 37-year-old slugger from the Chicago Cubs in a trade that is expected to be finalized early Friday. He was a late scratch in the Cubs' lineup Thursday and was booked on a red-eye flight to New York.

Soriano is years removed from his prime but has proven he can still hit the long ball. He has gone deep 17 times this year, 10 coming since June 28.

Despite hitting only .254 with a sub-par .287 on-base percentage this season, Soriano will be a boost to New York's injury-ridden lineup. The Yankees rank second-to-last in the AL in home runs with 88.

The seven-time All-Star spent the first five years of his career in New York before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 2004 for Alex Rodriguez. He was sent to the Washington Nationals two years later before signing a massive free agent deal with the Chicago Cubs in Nov. 2006.

During his 15-year career, the .272 lifetime hitter has amassed 389 home runs and 1,086 RBI.