Soriano, Nats Appear Headed for Second Go-Round

The Rangers official's evaluation is backed up by statistics: Soriano's career fielding percentage of .971 at second base is tied for the worst at the position in the last 50 years among players with at least 650 games there.

Bentz declined a request to be interviewed for this story. But many around the game see Soriano's refusal to change positions as being financially motivated. Power-hitting middle infielders are rare, which could make Soriano's free agent value as a second baseman higher than as a left fielder.

However, one baseball executive who knows Soriano dismisses that theory. "The truth is, his value as a below-average second baseman is really not that much higher than it would be as a potentially above-average outfielder. I really think this guy just identifies himself as a second baseman now. He loves playing there."

Barring a change of heart on Soriano's part, however, the Nationals appear to have little choice but to force the issue between Monday and Opening Day, April 3 at Shea Stadium.

Less clear is how Soriano will react. The Nationals have mapped out their options in the event he refuses to play, including possibly placing him on the little-used "disqualified" list, which would allow the team to suspend him without pay and not lose a spot on their 25-man roster.

Aware of how the issue could ruin clubhouse chemistry, the Nationals appear determined to confront it head-on when Soriano arrives.

"This thing is not going to drag on," Robinson said Sunday in Viera. "Let's leave it at that for right now."

Staff writers Steve Fainaru in Surprise, Ariz., and Barry Svrluga in Viera, Fla., contributed to this report.