Cubs scratch Soriano from lineup

With a deal to send Alfonso Soriano to the New York Yankees almost complete, the Chicago Cubs removed the left fielder from the starting lineup before Thursday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"It's about 99 percent done," manager Dale Sveum told reporters.

Sveum received a call from Cubs president Theo Epstein with the news informing him that the rumored deal was nearly finalized less than a week before the non-waiver trade deadline.

Soriano said Wednesday that he would waive his no-trade clause to return to the Yankees, with whom he started his major league career in 1999. Soriano left the Yankees after the 2003 season to sign with the Texas Rangers. He joined the Cubs in 2007, signing an eight-year, $136 million contract.

This season, the 37-year-old Soriano is batting .254 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI in 93 games.