CHICAGO -- Sammy Sosa doesn't want next season to be his last with the Chicago Cubs.

Negotiations for a contract extension are at a standstill, and the two sides remain far apart. But Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, said Thursday he's still optimistic they'll reach a deal.

	Sammy Sosa Right Field Chicago Cubs Profile
	2000 SEASON STATISTICS HR RBI R AVG OBP SLG 50 138 106 .320 .406 .634

"Sammy wants to stay, they want him, he's an important part of the club," Katz said. "It just seems to me intellectually that there should be a deal. I remain hopeful.

"The Cubs remain Sammy's first, second and third choices," Katz added.

Sosa, who turned 32 on Nov. 12, is signed through next season and will make $12 million next year. He's believed to be looking for a six-year deal worth around $100 million.

Negotiations have cooled since Nov. 11, the start of the free agent signing period.

"We were as upfront and straightforward as we can be," Cubs president and general manager Andy MacPhail said. "Come Nov. 11, our focus was going to shift over to the free-agent process."

The Cubs have lost 90 or more games three of the last four seasons, and MacPhail is determined to improve his team, starting with free agency. MacPhail has made pitching a priority, and he's aggressively courted Mike Hampton, one of the top free-agent pitchers available.

The Cubs also signed Julian Tavarez to a two-year deal, and have made offers to four relievers.

MacPhail met with Hampton in Houston last week, and the Cubs are expected to be among the finalists when the left-hander narrows his list of favorites. Hampton is believed to be looking for a six- to eight-year contract at $13 million to $15 million per year.

Atlanta, St. Louis and the Mets are the other likely favorites, and all three teams had winning records last year.

"We're a little bit of an underdog in the process. But we really do believe we're going to win," MacPhail said. "We remain hopeful."

Like Katz, MacPhail is also hopeful he can work something out with Sosa. In yet another woeful season, Sosa was one of the lone bright spots for the Cubs last year. He hit 50 homers for the third straight season and led the major leagues for the first time. He also hit .320 with 138 RBI.

In the last five seasons, he's hit 255 homers. He's also become of baseball's -- not to mention the Cubs' -- biggest stars. Last month, he went to London to promote baseball.

"Sammy might have had his best year ever for us last year," MacPhail said.

While Sosa has raised the idea about playing somewhere else if he can't reach a deal with the Cubs, that's frustration talking, Katz said.

"He and we feel we have been very reasonable and we're having a hard time getting to conclusion. That's frustrating, that's all," Katz said. "He's not stamping his feet saying he has to get out of here."

And the Cubs aren't looking to trade him, MacPhail said. If an extension can't be worked out before the season starts, MacPhail said he would have no problem letting Sosa play out his contract next year.

"As opposed to making a bad deal, certainly," MacPhail said. "It's not a question of the player's ability. It's just a function of how much can you devote to one player and put a winning team around him."

Though MacPhail is focused on free agency now, Katz expects they'll talk again. And, hopefully, they can work something out.

"The way things lay out, it looks like there should be a deal," Katz said. "And I'd be surprised if there wasn't."