"Right-handed reliever Rafael Soriano surprised the Braves on Monday night when he accepted arbitration. Under the rules, he is now committed to a one-year contract. If the sides can't agree to a deal, a three-person panel would determine his salary. Because Soriano made $6.1 last season and pitched well, he will get a raise and make between $7-$8 million next season.
This is a problem for the Braves, who spent $10.2 million to sign Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito for their bullpen. They can't afford to have $17 or $18 million tied up with three relievers. Soriano can't be traded without his permission before June 15. But GM Frank Wren has made it clear that he wants to make a deal. "That's the thing about having good players — when you have good players, you can trade them," he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The Red Sox were interested in Soriano as a free agent. Now that he is not, perhaps they could try and work a trade (Boston.com)."
I thought this idea was dead once he took arbitration, but it seems like this still might get done. Atlanta does not want to pay him that much for next season, but the Sox certainly would. A bullpen that has Bard, Soriano Okajima and Papelbon would be very solid. I don't think the Sox would have to give up that much in this deal, since Atlanta is so willing to trade him. It'll be interesting to see if this story develops.
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