Soriano moves to outfield, ends row with National

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Alfonso Soriano ended his brief
stand-off with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, agreeing
to move to the outfield and abandon his perch at second base.

Just two days ago, the four-times All-Star refused to take
the field for an exhibition game when manager Frank Robinson
pencilled him in at left field.

Soriano played an error-free game in left in a 9-3 loss to
the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, scoring two runs and
getting one hit in three at-bats.

Robinson said Soriano’s switch to the outfield was not a
one-off.

“He’s doing it for the season,” Robinson told reporters in
Jupiter, Florida. “I didn’t ask him to do it for today. That
wasn’t the answer I wanted. This is for the season.”

The 30-year-old Soriano, acquired in an off-season trade
with the Texas Rangers, has never played the outfield since
joining the Major Leagues in 1999 although his fielding at
second base has been erratic.

Washington had threatened to place Soriano on the
disqualified list, meaning he would forfeit his $10 million
annual salary.