Will Soriano Be Back In A Nationals Uniform Next Season?

Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten said yesterday that he didn't give credence to a wire report saying left fielder Alfonso Soriano, a free agent to be, turned down a five-year, $70 million offer to stay in Washington.

Washington's negotiations with Soriano were to be conducted by Kasten, and it's likely only a few select insiders -- perhaps just Kasten, Bowden and members of the ownership group led by Theodore N. Lerner -- will be privy to information on them.

Soriano, who this year became the fourth player to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in the same season, can file for free agency in the 15-day period immediately following the World Series. Until then, only the Nationals can negotiate with him.
One baseball source, commenting on the market in general, not on any offer from Washington, said that five years and $70 million was a "reasonable starting point" for negotiations, but he expected Bentz and Soriano to try to drive the market higher by getting teams to bid off each other.

Wherever Soriano ends up next season, he will surely make a nice addition to someone's lineup card.

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