MLB Offseason Moves Already Being Made As Angels Trade Starting Pitcher Griffin Canning To The Braves In Exchange For Power Hitter Jorge Soler

Hours after the 2024 MLB season concluded, the Braves and Angels made a deal, as pitcher Griffin Canning has been sent to Atlanta, while home run-hitter Jorge Soler is now heading to LA.

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In view of the exchange, Canning is a 28-year-old starting pitcher, who had a 6-13 record, 5.19 ERA and 1.40 WHIP for the Angels last season.

Soler is a 32-year-old outfielder, who appeared in 93 games with the San Francisco Giants (.749 OPS) and 49 games for the Braves (.849 OPS) last season, accumulating 21 home runs and a .241 batting average.

While Canning has a career 4.78 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, he has been a decent rotational pitcher for the Angels, making 99 appearances on the mound during his first five seasons in the big leagues.

On the other hand, Soler, during his 11-year career, has put up some astronomical numbers in past seasons, playing for the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, San Francisco Giants, and Braves. Notably, the Cuban-born star led the American League in home runs (48) in 2019, and then also won the 2021 World Series MVP award.

Then in Soler's 2023 All-Star season, he hit 36 home runs, while also contributing 75 RBI's, 77 runs, to go with a .250 average in 137 games.

Ultimately, this move may have been made by the Braves to help alleviate some salary space, as Soler is still owed $26 million and will be entering into the second season of a three-year/$42 million contract.

The Angels' projected outfield for 2025 will now feature 2x World Series champion Soler, 3x MVP Mike Trout, and Taylor Ward.

And the Atlanta Braves' pitching rotation will include: 2020 gold glove-winner Canning, Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, Spencer Schewellenbach, and Reynaldo Lopez.

To mention, Canning was a second round draft pick by the Angels out of UCLA, and he grew up in south Orange County. That is to say, he will have to get used to the new scenery in Atlanta.

Related: Jorge Soler Is Getting Sued Over 2021 World Series Incident