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.
A 478-ft leadoff blast!
Jorge Soler rockets out the farthest-hit homer of the season. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/8dZlvLE7gO
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2024
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.
Jorge Soler named World Series MVP 🏆
WS stats: .300/.391/.800, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R pic.twitter.com/1oq8ye30DN
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) November 3, 2021
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.
Jorge Soler recorded 34 doubles, 21 home runs, 84 runs scored, 64 RBI and a .780 OPS in 2024 and ranked in the Top 10 among outfielders in doubles and walks (68).
He was a 2023 All-Star with the Marlins, is a two-time World Series Champion and set the Royals franchise HR record… https://t.co/eswW4FVzFm
— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) October 31, 2024
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.
Jorge Soler 🤝 Mike Trout
World Series MVP 🤝 3x AL MVP
Teaming up in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/Qn3uQbOext
— StatMuse Baseball (@statmusemlb) October 31, 2024
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.
Griffin Canning is a super interesting reclamation project for the Braves in ‘25. Huge post hype breakout potential.
He’s also elite at PFPs
pic.twitter.com/KjgPsBakK5— Ben Axelrod (@Benaxelrod93) October 31, 2024
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
