With Alfonso Soriano entering his first year of free agency and the Nationals out of contention, it is very likely that he will be dealt. "Our preference is to keep him," GM Jim Bowden said. "If we had to trade him, we would do well in the trade." "If I like it here, you never know," Soriano said. "If they want me to stay here, it depends on the situation." Soriano said he ignored trade rumors "because you never know if it's going to happen or not." The Yankees have not contacted the Nationals about Soriano, while the Mets have an excess of outfielders and do not feel that he is an upgrade defensively at second base. The Angels, Dodgers and Cardinals could eventually emerge in the chase.