MESA, Ariz. — Alfonso Soriano has heard this question so many times since he arrived in Chicago two seasons ago: Could he, would he, should he be moved out of the leadoff spot?

There it was again today as the Cubs held their first full-squad workout. And Soriano answered in much the same way. He'll do whatever manager Lou Piniella asks.

"It's interesting. Every year it's the same question and I'm still batting leadoff," Soriano said. "I don't know, we'll see."

Piniella said this week that the long spring training — which includes 39 games — will give the Cubs plenty of time to experiment with different players and combinations, including moving Soriano down to the middle of the order.

Piniella likes Soriano to bat first and that's what Soriano prefers, but why not give it a look-see?

"Be in the lineup. That's my preference," Soriano said.

Soriano hit .280 with 29 homers and 75 RBIs last year. He had a .344 on-base percentage and 19 steals in 22 tries.

No longer the base-stealing threat he once was, and with 62 homers the last two seasons, Soriano could perhaps give the middle of the Cubs' lineup more wallop along with newly acquired Milton Bradley and veterans Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.

During the team's winter convention last month, Piniella approached Soriano with the idea of moving down.

"He was agreeable with it," Piniella said. "We're open. Our job in spring training is to put together the best team we can."

If Soriano drops down, Mike Fontenot, Ryan Theriot, Kosuke Fukudome and Aaron Miles could take over the top spot.

Soriano said he'd be willing to move, but he doesn't want to keep bouncing back and forth if he does.

"If they want to move me from the leadoff, I'd like to stay in one spot," Soriano added.

"I know how they pitch me batting leadoff, so now I have to learn how they want to pitch me in different spots in the lineup. ... If Lou wants to do that, I think now is the right time."

Soriano said he worked the entire month of January making sure his legs were ready for the season. He had two trips to the disabled list last season, one with a calf strain and another that lasted nearly six weeks after he was hit by a pitch and suffered a broken left hand.

Soriano was a 41-steal, 46-homer player in his lone season with the Nationals three years ago when he made the switch from second base to the outfield. He then signed an eight-year, $136 million deal with the Cubs.

Since spring training started last week, Piniella has been promising to rest all of his players more this season. Hearing that, the 33-year-old Soriano reiterated that he likes to play every day. He'd also like to stay healthy, something he says is as important to him as where he bats in the order.

After helping the Cubs win back-to-back NL Central titles, there is also the not so small matter of producing more in the offseason.

As the Cubs were swept out in the first round twice, running their World Series championship drought to 101 years headed into this season, Soriano struggled mightily. He was 3-for-28 with no RBIs, no stolen bases and eight strikeouts in the six playoff games.

"I think we put a lot of pressure because we wanted to play so well in the playoffs and we wanted to so badly be in the World Series," Soriano said.

"We have to play a bit more relaxed."