[EmpireWF]

The Baltimore Orioles reportedly were in preliminary talks with Alfonso Soriano and his agent. The Washington Post reports the Orioles were "floored" when Soriano and his agent made it known they want a contract similar to the one Carlos Beltran received from the Mets (7-years, $119 Million). The Orioles are in no way shape or form about to fork over that much cash for a single player.

Free-agent signings can't happen until November 12th so expect more talk to come down in the next two weeks.

Wow, I don't see any team giving that kind of a deal to Soriano. Unlike Beltran (who is a 5-tool player), Soriano is more of a 3-4 tool player lol. Soriano is an amazing hitter, no doubt about that, but good luck to him in seeking the cashcow.

[Lefty Noob]

Soriano and his agent are fools if they think he's worth that kind of money. Have fun watching the season on TV, Alfonzo!

[MVB]

Sounds like the amount of money you'd see Steinbrenner handing out. Maybe Soriano wants to come back to New York....

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by MVB

Sounds like the amount of money you'd see Steinbrenner handing out. Maybe Soriano wants to come back to New York....

LOL too bad for Soriano, it seems as though all the spots in Yankee Stadium are filled to the brim. You have Matsui/Damon/Abreu/Cabrera in the OF and Cano at second base.

[legend]

Everybody sets the bar high in the first negotiations, just in case somebody is dumb enough, like the Rangers' Tom Hicks, to go for that kind of money.

[chsbletz]

I understand your point but, just like pricing a house too high, setting your opening salary number too high significantly narrows the market. Soriano is a great natural hitter, but only an average outfielder and a poor infielder. The kind of money demands he is floating are appropriate to five-tool players.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by legend

Everybody sets the bar high in the first negotiations, just in case somebody is dumb enough, like the Rangers' Tom Hicks, to go for that kind of money.

Perhaps, but if the figure is too outrageous (as in this case) it can instantly end negotiations before they really even begin. It certainly sounds as though Baltimore has completely broken off talks with Soriano, since they're not even in the same ballpark, figure wise. Soriano's just shooting himself in the foot here.

[MJHMarc]

Originally Posted by MVB

Sounds like the amount of money you'd see Steinbrenner handing out. Maybe Soriano wants to come back to New York....

Regarding Steinbrenner, he became ill today at his grand-daughter's play.

Soriano will go wherever the most money is...Welcome back to New York!

[legend]

There are only a couple of teams that are realistically in the bidding for him to begin with-like the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets.

[MJHMarc]

The Dodgers? I'd love him there but we already have Jeff Kent at 2nd. Unless Soriano plays LF, we might have some trouble fitting him into our line-up.

[Lefty Noob]

I thought I heard Soriano that led the league in outfield assists this season. Why WOULDN'T he stay in the outfield? A move back to second seems illogical at this point. I doubt many teams court him to play there.