While Cody Bellinger is attracting all the headlines, slugger Jorge Soler is drawing interest from multiple MLB teams.
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While all eyes are on how slow the starting pitcher market is moving, that's not the only part of MLB free agency that's currently going at a snail's pace. The same can be said for the outfielder/designated hitter market. Cody Bellinger is the biggest name still available, but a right-handed slugger who is generating quite a bit of interest is Jorge Soler.
After being limited to 72 games in 2022 with the Miami Marlins, Soler came back and produced at an elite level in the power department. The soon-to-be 32-year-old suited up for 137 games and accumulated 580 plate appearances in Miami during 2023. That opportunity resulted in a .250/.341/.512 triple slash to go along with 36 home runs and 75 RBI.
This performance comes after slugging an American League-leading 48 homers in 2019 for the Kansas City Royals. So, teams looking for a legitimate power bat who can DH and also play a little outfield when needed can find that in Soler. He signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Marlins before the 2022 season. His contract included opt-outs after 2022 and 2023. Following a 30-homer campaign, the slugger opted to decline his $9 million salary for 2024 and test the open market.
At the start of free agency, MLB Trade Rumors predicted Soler would net a three-year, $45 million contract. If that's the neighborhood teams will have to live in to get a deal done, which squads are currently pursuing him?
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported on January 4 that the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox are all interested in his services. Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors noted that the Marlins and Washington Nationals have also been linked to Soler at other points during the offseason.
Soler would not only bring premium power to any lineup he joins in 2024. He'll also bring plenty of valuable postseason experience. He's a two-time World Series champion, winning it all in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs and again in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves. Soler was also named 2021 World Series MVP after hitting .300/.391/.800 with three homers and six RBI in 23 plate appearances during Atlanta's Fall Classic victory over the Houston Astros.
