Alfonso Soriano agrees to play left field for the Washington Nationals.
Criminy. The Rangers probably would have kept him if they could have gotten him to play outfield for them … Guess they didn’t want to risk the fallout of a long standoff. C’est la vie …
The potential loss of $10 million, coupled with not becoming a free agent after the season, probably had something to do with it.
How did they manage that? Very simply: they threatened to put Soriano on the disqualified list, which would have mean no pay (loss of $10 million), plus delaying his free agency (scheduled for next year).
They threatened to put him on the disqualified list. If he continued to refuse to play OF, he would have sat out this year without pay and without accruing time toward free agency. He could come back to the Nats next year, but he’d be under the same contract, and they’d still have Vidro at second.
There are very few jobs that I wouldn’t do for a guaranteed $10 million.
Would you blow John Madden?
The Nats have forced him to play, now lets see if he plays the field like someone playing for their free agent contract or like a selfish petulant child that will show them, that they can make him play but not make him field well.
Jim
Well I think that its indicative of his personality, that despite having unprecedented HR totals for a second baseman, Soriano has managed to work his way out of two different organizations.
I’m calling for petulant childlike behaivor followed by a trade to somewheres like Cincinnati or Seattle.
For $10 million?
Boom!
Okay, how about Tim McCarver?
Only if he goes off on his Deion Sanders rant again.
“You’re a real man, Deion. A real man.”
Am I allowed to bite? 'Cause it might be worth it if I could make him stop talking.