Soriano Digs In at Second Base, And Apparently Not in Washington

Another day in the Nationals offseason brought another story from the Dominican Republic in which newly acquired Alfonso Soriano said he does not want to give up his cherished second base and move to the outfield.

Only this time he added that he does not want to switch leagues, will play out his contract in Washington this summer then sign as a free agent with an American League team.

"I knew the pitchers and batters of opposing teams and therefore where to place myself defensively," he told the Associated Press at a dinner hosted by Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez . "In the National that's going to take me a while."

Nationals executives saw the comments yesterday while in the midst of preparing tender offers and trying to make last-second deals with arbitration-eligible players.

They didn't sound too alarmed, however, brushing off Soriano's words as standard winter talk that players make, especially at contract time. Soriano is one of the Nationals eligible for arbitration and stands to make as much as $10 million next season.

The plan remains for team officials, including Manager Frank Robinson , to sit down with Soriano and let him know why they think he would fit best in the outfield. With regular second baseman Jose Vidro hobbled by knee problems, there is still the chance that Soriano could start the season at second anyway.

-- Les Carpenter