No, he really isn't. All-in-all, they have comparable value as hitters, no matter where they are in the order. Besides, Roberts can't be an upgrade over Soriano if he isn't replacing him; he's replacing DeRosa. I fully realise that this is nothing more than a semantic argument. But the issue is simply that Brian Roberts is not valuable because he can hit at the top of the order and steal a few bases. Brian Roberts is valuable for one reason, and one reason alone. He gets on base. It doesn't matter if he's batting first or eighth; he is valuable soley for his ability to get on base. Agreed, I would want Roberts batting near the top of the order in most cases. But if the choice is to mess with Soriano, who may very well convince himself that he can't hit down in the order... or just leave him there and bat Roberts 2nd... it's really not even a choice.