The Daily Herald's Bruce Miles reports that Lou Piniella said yesterday that Alfonso Soriano will not be playing center field in 2007, but will play one of the corner outfield spots. That means one of three things: the Cubs will either 1) sign a stopgap center fielder like Kenny Lofton; 2) move Jacque Jones to center field; or 3) let Felix Pie, Eric Patterson, and Angel Pagan fight it out in spring training. (On Patterson playing center, see View from the Bleachers.)

One of the outfielders the Cubs have had on their radar is Cliff Floyd, as noted most recently in today's Chicago Sun-Times. But Floyd would not make much sense unless the Cubs are certain they can trade Jones. (On Jones being traded, see today's Daily Herald.) Floyd has not played center field since 1998, and has only played there in 28 games over his career.

With Soriano in one of the corner outfield spots, the best scenario appears to be Lofton in center on a one year contract, with Matt Murton and either Jones or Floyd platooning in the other corner outfield spot.