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Sosa arrived 70 minutes before Sunday's first pitch and he apparently left 15 minutes after the first pitch.
Sammy Sosa was fined $87,400 -- one day's salary -- for arriving late and leaving early at the Cubs' regular-season finale at Wrigley Field. The slugger's agent said Thursday that Sosa most likely will file a grievance.
Sosa arrived 70 minutes before Sunday's first pitch, and he apparently left 15 minutes after the game started without putting on his uniform, according to security cameras in the team's parking lot at Wrigley Field. Sosa told the Chicago Sun-Times he was in the clubhouse until the seventh inning.
After hearing that manager Dusty Baker told reporters he wanted Sosa to be in top shape next season, an angry Sosa told the newspaper he was tired of Baker blaming him for the Cubs' failures.
"It's certainly inexcusable for him not be at the ballpark and not dressed with his teammates," general manager Jim Hendry said.
Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, called the fine too steep. Katz acknowledged Sosa made a mistake by not being in uniform but the entire matter has been overblown.
"I think, on balance, with all the surrounding issues, the fine is severe," he said. "Sammy is a baseball player who delivers everything he has."
"He is emotionally, mentally and physically prepared and a warrior inside the lines," Katz added. "He definitely overreacted by not being in uniform and it was a mistake and he recognizes it."
The episode follows an injury-plagued season in which Sosa batted just .253 with 35 homers and 85 RBI, leading to speculation the Cubs will try to trade him.
Sosa is to make $17 million next season and the club has an $18 million option for 2006 with a $4.5 million buyout. If Sosa is traded, his 2006 contract becomes guaranteed and a 2007 club option is added at $19 million with a $4.5 million buyout.
Katz is confident the disagreement can be worked out.
"I don't view it as an issue," he said.
Source: AP