"Cubs manager Mike Quade, who plans to make improved fielding a focus of camp this spring, said benching $18 million left fielder Alfonso Soriano in the late innings of close games could be a possibility this season, as it was early last season.

''Look, he's not running the way he did [earlier in his career], and it's a thought,'' said Quade, who stressed it's not an issue he plans to consider this early in camp. ''There's a lot of stuff that goes into that. Let's see how he comes in this year.''

For now, Quade says, ''I want him to come in here expecting to play nine innings every day and to get better and continue to work and be as good as he can defensively. Stay healthy and do that. When it's time to play ballgames, we'll figure out all that.''

Soriano, who admittedly never worked especially hard at his outfield play until last season, forced former manager Lou Piniella's hand just six games into last season with mistakes and a particularly costly error on the opening road trip. By the home opener, Piniella announced a new policy that Soriano, for defensive reasons, would be taken out when the Cubs led late in close games."