Of course you have to add in that you have 5 million dollars less each year to spend in 2009, 2010, and 2011 (2011 as long as Lugo's option vests, which he is on pace to do). Considering those are the years that the Cubs might have the biggest budget crunch (transition of ownership change+other big contracts that run through those years that likely won't be renewed after that), that should be an important consideration. Personally, I feel the Cubs best window is the next couple of years, so I'd rather take what I think is the better production (Soriano) and the best financial flexibility for the next few years (also Soriano) rather than the shorter contracts.