80% of what? The first year or both years. The problem is if Sosa stays a Cub he is guaranteed 18+6m buyout. But if he's traded, Year 2 kicks in and he gets another 12 mil or so, so 36 mil total. If the Cubs took 80% of that they'd be spending more than if they simply ket him. Obviously that makes no sense. If ther O's just pick up 14 of the first 18, then the Cubs save 4+6 buyout. 10 mil over 2 years. That's not that far. I say toss in another 2 mil and we have a deal. Cubs pay 12 MIL of the remainder in Sosa's salary. Would save the Cubs 6 in each of the next two years, and they could use that...possibly on Beltran including the savings from Alou (9m) and Clement (6m). That's 21 mil with Sosa's 6. Or maybe the Cubs can convince Maggs Ordonez to take a Nomar-like 1 year deal.