Alfonso Soriano was denied his request in arbitration today. Soriano wanted $12 million from his new team (the Washington Nationals), 1+ months after his trade from the Texas Rangers. The Nationals offered Soriano $10 million. The arbritrators came back and said that Soriano will get $10 million in the 2006 season. The big questions here are is this a win or a loss in Soriano's case, and will he be paid $10 million for playing second base with another team, or the outfield for the Nationals?

1. Win or Loss for Power Hitting, Defense Lacking 2B?
Soriano will be making 8 figures this year, compared to 7 and 6 the past few seasons. Now, if it were me, I'd take 8 figures in a heartbeat. That's a lot of money, but in Soriano's case, I can see why he wanted more. He will most likely have the most homeruns for a second baseman by the time his career is over (or will he? The outfield doesn't count as 2B). He's definently worth what's he getting. So, in that case, he's a winner. He's still getting paid a huge amount of money, in fact, a record salary. Andruw Jones got $8.6 million after he beat the Braves. However, Soriano felt he's worth more than $10 million (which, I think, $12 million was just a random figure. I think he wanted to put out $15-$17 million). So by getting $10 million, he feels that he's getting jipped...and may now feel even more relunctant to move to the outfield. In which case, the Nationals AND Soriano are losers.

2. Will Soriano be a National on Opening Day 2006?
Since Soriano has been so relunctant to move to the outfield, there has been rumors floating around about him being traded. And let me say, every player has a chance of being traded, but there's a percentage of being traded applied to each player. Every team says they have their "untouchables", but everything can be bought for the right price. Most of the rumors have him going to the Chicago Cubs. I personally think, he'll move. Frank Robinson will talk to Soriano, and he'll move. They'll tell him that he'll play left field, or he'll play bench. And if Vidro goes down, he will not be the starting second baseman in his place. To tell you the truth, the Nationals are a mess, and if the Marlins weren't a bigger mess, the Nats would be last next year. I feel Soriano will be on the opening day roster, in left field. Then, come May 13, Soriano will be traded to the Cubs for Jerome Williams and Jerry Hairston Jr.