Rafael Soriano (root canal) will pitch in a minor league game Saturday.

Soriano had a root canal Thursday afternoon, but was originally expected to return to Grapefruit League action on Saturday. However, he's not back to 100 percent quite yet, so the Nationals are going to ease him back into things against lesser competition.

Rafael Soriano had a root canal Thursday afternoon in Florida.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson believes that he will be ready to pitch Friday, as scheduled. It will not have an impact on his availability for Opening Day.

Rafael Soriano may need surgery for an infected wisdom tooth.

Soriano traveled to his native Dominican Republic on Tuesday, but it was unrelated to his tooth. Surgery wouldn't affect his availability for the season, but the Nationals would like him to get it taken care of as soon as possible.

Rafael Soriano was tagged for four runs in two-thirds of an inning by the Tigers on Monday.

Of course, agent Scott Boras pitched Soriano to the Tigers several times before Soriano eventually ended up with the Nationals. Soriano's velocity isn't quite there yet after he was a late arrival to Nationals camp. Maybe it will come soon.

Rafael Soriano threw live batting practice for the first time Wednesday.

Soriano was a late arrival to camp due to problems obtaining his visa. He could be cleared for games this week depending on how he responds Thursday. The Nationals are expected to limit Soriano to eight appearances in spring training.

Rafael Soriano reported to Nationals' camp Saturday.

Soriano obtained his work visa and wound up missing just a few days. The 33-year-old right-hander signed a two-year, $28 million contract this offseason and will open 2013 as the Nationals' closer.

Rafael Soriano has obtained his work visa and will report to Nationals' camp Friday.

He wound up missing just a few days, so no harm done. Soriano inked a two-year, $28 million free agent contract with the Nationals this offseason and will serve as the team's ninth-inning man in 2013.

Rafael Soriano has not yet reported to Nationals camp in Viera, Florida because of a visa issue.

That's the word from Soriano's agent, Scott Boras, via FOX Sports' Jon Morosi. Soriano should be able to get the problem resolved within the next couple of days. The 33-year-old right-hander inked a two-year, $28 million free agent contract with the Nationals this offseason and will serve as the team's closer in 2013.

Rafael Soriano is absent from Nationals camp.

It's not clear whether it's an excused absence because Nationals officials aren't answering questions about the matter. The official report day for pitchers and catchers was Tuesday and physicals were scheduled to happen Wednesday afternoon. Soriano, who signed a two-year, $28 million free agent contract with Washington back in mid-January, has not been spotted anywhere in Florida.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed Thursday during Rafael Soriano's introductory press conference that Soriano would be the team's closer in 2013.

"Suffice it to say, Raffy is here to pitch the ninth inning," Rizzo said. There was little doubt given the amount of money the Nats gave Soriano, but there was a need to make it official since the team has two others on the roster in Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard that are capable of closing. Rizzo isn't worried about how Storen and Clippard will react to being used as setup men. "I'm certainly not worried about Clip or Drew," Rizzo said. "They're consummate professionals."

Nationals signed RHP Rafael Soriano to a two-year, $28 million contract.

The deal includes a vesting option for a third year which kicks in if he reaches 120 games finished between 2013 and 2014. Soriano will be paid $7 million in each of the next two seasons while he'll receive $14 million in deferred payments starting in 2018. He's expected to move into the closer role for the defending NL East champs, which immediately makes him a top-10 option in fantasy leagues. Meanwhile, Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard will serve as a bridge in the late innings.

ESPN's Jim Bowden reports that Rafael Soriano's contract with the Nationals will pay him $7 million in 2013 and 2014, with $14 million in deferred payments that start in 2018.

With the contract spread out so much, the Nats will actually "only" be paying Soriano an average of $11.8 million per season. The deal also includes a $14 million option for a third year that will vest if Soriano reaches 120 games finished between 2013 and 2014. The Nats haven't commented on the deal because it's not official yet, but Soriano presumably will slide into the closer role, with Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard setting up.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Nationals and Rafael Soriano have agreed to a two-year, $28 million contract.

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Dodgers are "looking into" signing free agent reliever Rafael Soriano.

Brandon League is the front-runner to open the season as the Dodgers' closer, but the addition of Soriano would presumably push him into a set-up role. Olney speculates that there's about a "20 percent" chance that a deal gets done, so the scenario is a longshot. Signing Soriano would cost the Dodgers their first-round pick in 2013.

Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record was told by a source that Scott Boras approached the Yankees last month about whether they would consider bringing Rafael Soriano back on a one-year deal.

The request was "flatly denied," according to Klapisch. Soriano opted out of his $14 million option and then turned down a one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer to test free agency, so the Yankees are focused on getting the draft pick (and the additional draft pool money) when he signs elsewhere. Of course, that he is tied to draft pick compensation isn't doing him any favors on the open market.

Anthony Rieber of Newsday writes that Rafael Soriano is "unlikely" to return to the Yankees.

That's been the assumption all along, but with Mariano Rivera (knee) on track to be medically cleared for spring training, the Yankees won't be making any additions to their bullpen. After posting a 2.26 ERA and 42 saves in 2012, Soriano has struggled to attract interest in free agency and is linked to draft pick compensation. He may ultimately have to settle for a one-year deal.

ESPN's Jim Bowden lists the Blue Jays as a "sleeper team" to sign Rafael Soriano.

It's obvious the Jays are going for it in 2012, and adding Soriano would give them a potentially lethal back-end of the bullpen along with Casey Janssen and a hopefully healthy Sergio Santos. Soriano, 32, is seeking a multi-year contract worth $10 million annually in free agency, but to this point there hasn't seemed to be a big market for him.

According to CBS Sports' Danny Knobler, the Tigers are unlikely to be talked into signing Rafael Soriano.

Despite the efforts of Scott Boras, the Tigers appear set to open the season with Bruce Rondon, Al Alburquerque and Brayan Villarreal in their bullpen, and continue to deny any interest in Soriano. While it's possible he could eventually be a fit on a short-term deal, Rondon remains the favorite in-house candidate to replace Jose Valverde. Soriano, 32, is seeking a multi-year contract worth $10 million annually in free agency.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that adding another reliever this offseason is "not necessary."

That means Rafael Soriano is unlikely to return, though he was already expected to take a job elsewhere as a closer. It also means the Yanks probably won't go after a guy like Joakim Soria, who they have been linked to. With Mariano Rivera back as closer and David Robertson as setup man, it's no surprise that Cashman isn't viewing the bullpen as a priority.

MLB Network's Peter Gammons reports that Tigers owner Mike Ilitch spoke with Rafael Soriano's agent, Scott Boras, Monday.

M-Live.com reported last week that the Tigers aren't expected to pursue Soriano, but it's clear that they're at least kicking the tires. The reliever exercised his opt-out clause with the Yankees to void the final year of his contract and is looking for a multi-year deal on the open market. He posted a 2.26 ERA while recording 42 saves in 2012.