SF Giants officially sign DH Jorge Soler to three-year, $42 million contract
The SF Giants announced on Sunday that they have officially signed designated hitter Jorge Soler (#13-ranked free agent) to a three-year, $42 million contract in free agency. In a corresponding move, the Giants shifted pitcher Austin Warren to the 60-day injured list.
The deal was first reported by Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle. Slusser was the first to report that the Giants were pursuing Soler earlier this month. Mike Rodriguez was the first to report the financial terms of the agreement. The Miami Marlins, Soler's former team, did not extend him a qualifying offer so the Giants will not lose any draft picks as part of this signing.
Miami Marlins LF Jorge Soler hits a two-run home run against the SF Giants. (2023)
Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
The right-handed slugger has consistently bashed plenty of home runs and worked walks at above-average rates throughout his career. This season with the Marlins, Soler hit .250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs in 580 plate appearances, receiving his first career All-Star selection. With some of the best power in MLB, Soler declined his $9 million player option in search of a long-term deal.
Soler becomes the second significant offensive acquisition of the offseason, joining center fielder Jung-hoo Lee, who inked a $111 million contract with the Giants earlier this offseason. While Lee is a young, contact-oriented player who likely projects as a lead-off hitter, Soler has the potential to be an impactful middle-of-the-lineup presence.
A career .243/.330/.467 hitter with 170 home runs, Soler would easily be the most proven power hitter on the Giants roster. Soler has some of the biggest power in professional baseball, and should still be able to rack up impressive tallies in the pitcher-friendly confines of Oracle Park.
Born and rasied in Cuba, Soler defected from his native country after emerging as a top teenage prospect in the Caribbean. Soler inked a nine-year, $30 million contract with the Chicago Cubs upon becoming eligible to sign. He made his big-league debut with the Cubs in 2014 and appeared in each of the next three seasons.
While Soler was a slightly above average hitter in Chicago (106 OPS+), his defensive struggles in the outfield made it hard for the team to find him a more permanent role. With those questions remaining, the Cubs traded Soler to the Kansas City Royals for reliever Wade Davis.
Soler's tenure in Kansas City got off to a rough start as injuries derailed the majority of his 2017 and 2018 seasons. However, in 2019, Soler played in all 162 games and emerged as one of the best designated hitters in the league. He finished the season with a .265/.354/.569 triple-slash and led the league with 48 home runs.
The Royals traded Soler to Atlanta at the 2021 trade deadline, and the slugger was a key difference maker in Atlanta's run to a World Series title. After winning his second World Series ring, Soler became a free agent and inked a two-year deal with the Marlins. Injuries limited Soler to 72 games in 2022.
Soler has some obvious limitations. Consistently a well below-average outfielder, Soler is really only a viable everyday player as a designated hitter. While he has plenty of power and a penchant for working walks, he is also one of the more strikeout prone hitters in the league. Moreover, as he nears his 32nd birthday, his history of injuries creates some reason for concern as well.
However, after the Giants added a good defensive outfielder this offseason in Lee, traded Mitch Haniger, and let Joc Pederson sign with the division-rival Diamondbacks in free agency, the team has a bit more flexibility for a bat-first player. Michael Conforto and Wilmer Flores were expected to receive the lion's share of opportunities at designated hitter. Now that the SF Giants seem on the cusp of signing Jorge Soler, though, it's worth wondering if another move (possibly a trade) is on the horizon.
