WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 27: Jorge Soler #12 of the Miami Marlins warms up before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 27, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves kicked off the MLB off-season with a bang Thursday, trading away veteran designated hitter Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels. In return, the Braves received young right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning.
Soler, who batted .241 in 2024 with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs, has bounced around a number of teams in recent years and still has some pop at age 32. His best years may be behind him, but he can provide some power to an Angels lineup that went quiet without Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout in 2024.
Canning, meanwhile, has only appeared for the Angels in a limited capacity since his 2019 debut, has he has been consistently derailed by injuries. In 2024, however, he made his most appearances in a single season, making 31 starts. He finished with a 5.19 ERA and 6-13 record.
The Braves and Angels announced the trade just 14 hours after the World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers ended, hitting the ground running in what figures to be a busy off-season across the league. Juan Soto leads a talented stable of free agents that also includes Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes, Pete Alonso, Max Fried, Alex Bregman and many others.
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While trades and minor signings could come at any time between now and Opening Day, big free agent acquisitions will likely be delayed as player representatives sift through different offers and weigh their options. It would be unwise for Soto, for instance, to rush into any agreement if he is looking to maximize his contract for the 2025 season and beyond.
For the next month or so, small announcements like the Soler trade will trickle in while fans and insiders alike speculate on the futures of big free agents. It is a vastly different focus for baseball. One day removed from the World Series, one that was ultimately decided by role players and fundamental play, the entire league is now shifting into a mode of thinking in which the biggest names dominate theoretical projections and predictions. The vicious cycle continues.
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